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ADDRESS 



DELIVERED TO THE 



INHABITANTS Of BATH, 



ON THE 



EVENING OF JANUARY 23, 1854, 



BEING THE 



FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUTHOR'S FIRST PREACH- 
ING IN THE TOWN. 



BY 



REY. DAYID SUTHERLAND. 



WITH AN HISTORICAL APPENDIX, 



BY 



REV. THOMAS BOUTELLE. 



/<v 



BOSTON: 

PRESS OF GEO. C. RAND & AYERY, 3 CORNHILL. 

1855. 



c/ 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Rev. Mr. Sutherland's Address, ----- 5 

Geographical Description of the Town, - - - 39 

First Settlement of the Town, and Royal Charter, - - 40 
First Town Meeting, and Extracts from Town Records, 50 
Meeting Houses, --------54 

Churches and Ministers, - - - - - - -57 

Speech of J. I. Swan, Esq. - - - - - - 62 

Revivals, - - - - - - - - -67 

Deacons, .-.------68 

Schools, 69 

Roads and Bridges, - - - - - - - 71 

MiUs, 74 

Physicians, - - - - - - - -- 80 

Lawyers, ---------82 

Educated and Professional Men, ----- 88 

Town Officers, _ . - 94 

Revolutionary Soldiers, - - - - - - 98 

Deaths and Longevity, - - - - - --100 

Casualties, 104 

Population, - - - - - - - - -114 

First Inventories of the Town, - - - - - 114 

Paper Money, -IIG 

First Things, 117 

Temperature and Climate, " 123 

Obituary Notice of Rev. D. Sutherland, - - - 128 



ADDRESS. 



Before reading the manuscript before me, I will 
take the liberty of giving a brief narrative of my 
early life, previous to my coming to this country. 
You all know that I am a native of Scotland, but you 
do not know how nearly I came of being a native of 
America. Yet so it was. My parents soon after 
marriage, concluded to emigrate to this country, 
and formed a part of a company who chartered a 
ship for that purpose. All got on board with their 
goods and set sail. The vessel was wrecked on one 
of the Shetland Islands. Life was saved, but every 
thing else was lost. The passengers claimed in- 
demnity, which the owners resisted. A suit at 
law was commenced, which obliged the passengers 
to go to Edinburgh, to await its issue. There my 
parents remained^ and there I was born, and there 
I received a common school education. At the age of 
fourteen, I was entered as an apprentice in a printing 
office. At the age of sixteen, I became the subject of 



deep religious feeling, and immediately came into 
the church. For years I regularly met with young 
men, similarly minded, once a week, for mutual ed- 
ification, which contributed much to our growth in 
knowledge and ability to express ourselves on re- 
ligious subjects. When about nineteen, the Sabbath 
School system started into existence, and I engag- 
ed with great zeal as an instructer. Whilst in- 
structing children, the idea occurred of studying 
for the ministry. I immediately commenced pre- 
paratory studies, with a firm reliance on the provi- 
dence of God for carrying me through, nor was I 
disappointed. Most opportunely I obtained admis- 
sion into the theological seminary, established for 
the purpose of raising pastors for the Congrega- 
tional churches in Scotland, which were then com- 
ing into existence. It was wholly a gratuitous in- 
stitution, at the expense of the famous Robert Hal- 
dane ; at first under the tuition of Greville Ewing, 
one of the best scholars of the age, and afterwards 
aided by that distinguished theological divine, Ralph 
Wardlaw, D. D. The class to which I belonged 
finished their studies the last week of the past cen- 
tury ; and we commenced our ministerial life the 
first Sabbath of the present century. Two years 
afterwards I received an invitation from a Scottish 
farmer who had settled in Barnet, Vt., to cross the 
Atlantic and make his house my home, and preach 
in the neighborhood. I came; and thus I was 
brought into this country. 



And now, my friendS; I proceed to read the man- 
uscript before me, which I have entitled 

REMLNISCENCES OF THE TOWN OF BATH. 



It having been repeatedly suggested to me that I 
should commit to writing some of my early recol- 
lections of persons and events connected with the 
town, I have concluded this 18th day of July, 1853, 
to make a beginning, without any particular plan, 
or any design of publication,* but only as a sort of 
memorandum to my children and grandchildren, 
when I shall have passed away, like almost the 
whole generation of whom I may have occasion to 
write. 

The first Sabbath I ever spent in this town, was 
in January, 1804, at the invitation of Mr. Roger 
Sargent, who was the most prominent member of 
the church, and one of the principal inhabitants of 
the town. The services were in the house of Ezra 
Child, who lived in the house now occupied by 
Baxter Deming. The third service was in the 
house of Mr. Sargent, the same now owned and 
occupied by John Bedel, Esq., though this building 
(by tlie elegant taste of its late owner, Hon. James 
H. Johnson) maybe well compared to the Irishman's 
pistol, which, he said, had a new lock, a new stock 
and a new barrel. By invitation, I preached sev- 
eral Sabbaths for upwards of a year. Towards 



8 

the spring of the year following, the church, then 
consisting of thirty members, voted a call to me 
to the pastoral office, and according to the laws 
and usages of those days, had an article inserted 
in the town warning, to invite me to become town 
minister. The vote was marvellously unanimous, 
five only voting in the negative, although some I 
suppose, declined voting. Two of the five, Samuel 
Minot and Jonathan Barron, afterwards became 
my warm friends. And I may add, towards the 
close of life, Ezra Child himself, who was the chief 
opposer. The salary voted by the town was $400, 
to be assessed in the tax bills of the successive 
years, and to be collected by the collectors of tax- 
es. At a future period, it was raised to $500, and 
indeed, in a wonderful fit of good nature, a year or 
two before the dissolution of the contract, to 
$600^ But from a deeply fixed principle of mine, 
that everything connected with religion should be 
entirely voluntary, I uniformly charged the collect- 
ors to take nothing, on my account, from such as 
were unwilling or unable to pay the sums annexed 
to their names. The names of such citizens as 
signified that their preferences were for other de- 
nominations, were, of course, omitted in the tax 
bills. In consequence of taking ajiy thing, or 
nothing of those whose names were inserted in 
the tax bills, I received no more than about three 
fourths of the stipulated salary; and in some in- 

*See Appendix. 



9 



stances I actually refunded to such as I heard, paid 
grudgingly. And were it not for handsome 'pres- 
ents I occasionally received, and some property by 
my most beloved wife, I must have been reduced 
to absolute poverty. But now that I am very ao-ed, 
having entered my seventy-seventh year, to °my 
Lord and Master, when he may ask me", " Lacked ye 
anything? " I can truly answer, '^ Nothing." 

I removed from Barnet where I had spent nearly 
two years, to this town in May, 1805 ; but the only 
habitation I could obtain, was a chamber in the 
house of Isaac Noyes, now occupied by Dr. John 
French. For nearly two years, that sole chamber 
was kitchen, bed-room, parlor, study, nursery, and 
audience-room. 

The charters of the townships of New Hamp- 
shire, it seems, reserved a ministerial right of land, 
to become the absolute property of the hrst set- 
tled minister; which right, would have belonged to 
me, were it not that the first charter, for reasons I 
never knew, was vacated and a second granted, 
which omitted that benevolent provision. A gran- 
tee of the first charter instituted a suit against a 
poor man of the name of Bryant, who lived on 
what is called Gardner's mountain, to test the val- 
idity of the first charter. Bryant gained the case, 
but the cost of litigation, stripped him of his little 
all; and he was turned on the wide world penni- 
less, with a young family. Yet the temporary loss 
proved a real gain. He removed to Irasburgh, in 
1^ 



10 



Vermont, where he and his sons rank, if not among 
the most wealthy, yet among the most respectable 
farmers in the north of Vermont. Had they re- 
mained stationary, on the bleak summit of Gard- 
ner's mountain, they would have been poor enough. 
Indeed, it is a curious fact, that I can reckon up 
nine places on and around that luckless mountain, 
where so many families lived, where there is not 
now a vestige of a human habitation. 

In the fall of 1803, the frame of the old meeting 
house^' was raised, covered and glazed. I preach- 
ed the first sermon in it, in June following. There 
had been a small shanty-like building, a kind of 
apology for a meeting-house, formerly erected in 
what is now the burying ground, near the old 
church ; but luckily it was burnt by accident. Mr. 
Hurd of Boston, gave three acres, as a site for a 
place of worship, — and the town voted $200 for 
the privilege of holding town meetings in it. A 
plan of the building, including all the seats, was 
drawn, and the seats appraised, so as with the town 
money to amount to $3,000. The seats were all 
taken at the appraised prices — not one left. The 
money was raised, and Mr. Sargent built the house 
for that sum. 

In the month of May, 1805, I commenced my la- 
bors in that void house, without a gallery, without 
a pulpit, without a seat. My pulpit was a work- 

*See Appendix. 



11 



bench, and the people sat, as they could, on the 
lumber that was scattered all over the floor. 

In the month of October, the meeting-house was 
finished — but not painted. On the 24th of that 
month, my installation took place. Noah Worces- 
ter of Thornton, preached the sermon. Messrs. 
Worcester of Peacham, Lambert of Newbnry, Kel- 
log of Bradford, and Dana of Oxford officiated. 
My connection with the town, lasted thirty years, 
and was dissolved by a vote of the town. My con- 
nection with the church continued eight years long- 
er, and was dissolved at my request; notwithstand- 
ing, I have preached almost every Sabbath since, 
either on the west of the mountain, or in vacan- 
cies. 

The inhabitants of the village, at the time of my 
settlement consisted of eleven families on the east 
side of the river, and one family on the west side. 

The most prominent family in the village was 
that of Moses P. Payson, Esq."^ He was a native 
of Rowley, Mass. — a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege — had studied law with Mr. Sprague of Ha- 
verhill. He was the first preceptor of Haverhill 
Academy. It was there that he became acquaint- 
ed with his future wife, Hannah Perley, step-daugh- 
ter of Col. Hutchins, (brother of " Squire Hutch- 
ins " of this town) who had recently removed from 
Haverhill, Mass. Mr. Payson first opened a law 

*See Appendix. 



12 



office in Maine; but after a short stay removed to 
this town. He had built the house in which John 
L Carlton, Esq. now lives. Mrs. Pajson was a 
lady of great personal beauty, symmetrical in form, 
majestic and commanding in appearance, dio-nified 
m manners, and a perfect house-wife, frequently 
doing her kitchen work without the assistance of 
a maid. Whilst very economical, she was remark- 
ably liberal. Mr. Payson himself was a perfect 
model of a gentleman, — easy, graceful and polish- 
ed m the most perfect degree. And yet there was 
something in his air that inspired awe, and imposed 
a certain degree of restraint in his presence. He 
was the best retailer of anecdote lever knew, and 
the most perfect presiding officer of a deliberative 
assembly. At my first acquaintance with this esti- 
mable family, they were the parents of an only 
child ; and, bating a religious character, one of the 
happiest I ever knew. From the first they were 
most constant attendants on public worship, except 
when detained by sickness, which happened with 
great frequency. And what was rather sino-ular 
though not a professor of religion, he maintained 
family worship; and was so hospitable to minis- 
ters, that his house was frequently called " the 
minister's tavern." 

Mrs. Payson came into the church in middle life ; 
and few females ever adorned the Christian pro' 
fesssion more than she. He came into the church 



13 



at the close of life. His sick-bed repentance had 
every appearance of evangelical sincerity. 

The Payson family was a very afflicted family. 
On an average, my impression is, that Mrs. P. had 
a fever about once a year, and the children were 
often sick. In the household, as the Apostle says, 
<' there were deaths oft.'' Deborah Payson, the 
sister, an elderly maiden lady, died suddenly whilst 
on a visit. Mary, the eldest daughter, died of 
consumption, when about twelve years of age. I 
published a brief memoir of the child, which was 
circulated as a tract. These two deaths occurred 
in the old house, before the great brick house was 
built. Till the erection of that house, Mr. Payson 
was considered a remarkably prudent and econom- 
ical man ; but every body wondered at his extrav- 
agance in erecting that splendid monument of fol- 
ly. Even his wife was never reconciled to it. His 
former residence was sufficiently capacious and 
suitable for any family; and to expend thirteen 
thousand dollars in building a house, as it turned 
out, not to live in, but to die in, seemed to all but 
himself, consummate folly. In the great house there 
was an apartment which he called the " nursery," 
an odd name, as there was no probability of its be- 
ing used for that purpose. In the event it became 
the sick and dying room. I have an idea that there 
is not another room in New Hampshire, that wit- 
nessed so much sickness, sorrow, agony even, and 
death, as that luckless room. In another apart- 



14 



ment of the house, his eldest grandchild sickened 
and died. But in the nursery, so called, Mr. Pay- 
son sickened and died — his youngest daughter 
sickened and died — Mrs. Payson sickened and 
died — the eldest daughter, wife of Jonathan Smith, 
Esq., sickened and died, — and then her husband 
sickened and died, all in a few years. And they 
were all cases of extreme protracted illness, before 
death closed the scene. I was much conversant with 
all these sufferers, and firmly believe that each of 
them became meet to be a partaker of the inherit- 
ance of the saints in light. Indeed, Mr. Smith's 
little daughter, a child about six years of age, gave 
such evidence of conversion as convinced her fath- 
er of the truth of the doctrine of regeneration, 
and set him in real earnest to seek that blessing 
which I verily believe he obtained. 

James I. Swan, Esq., though not so early a resi- 
dent in this town as Mr. Payson, yet for many 
years was his only contemporary lawyer. The ac- 
quaintance of these two gentlemen commenced 
when Mr. Payson was preceptor of Haverhill Acad- 
emy. Young Swan was then his pupil, and perceiv- 
ing the superiority of his genius, he encouraged 
him to pursue his studies. And he did continue 
classical studies, till fully prepared to enter a law 
office. Like Payson, he acquired his law education 
under the direction of Mr. Sprague, whose accom- 
plished daughter he married. Mr. Spra^-ue's esti- 
mate of his two pupils, was that whilst Payson had 



15 



more learning and acquired talent, Swan had more 
brilliancy of imagination and force of native en- 
ergy. 

Mr. Swan was a man of large stature — bold and 
noble bearing. As a lawyer he stood high among 
his contemporaries at the bar, and was a good 
citizen. The total abstinence principle had not 
made much pro<;^ress in his day, and being fond of 
gay company, himself the gayest, his sun set be- 
hind a cloud, when but little in advance of the mid- 
day of life. As a token of respect for my friends, 
Payson and Swan, I will record a remark Mr. Swan 
made to me shortly before his death. " Mr. Pay- 
son and myself," said he, ^' have always lived ami- 
cably, and though almost always on opposite sides 
in lawsuits, never did an unkind word pass between, 
us : — this " added he, " is one chief comfort of my 
life." I was present once, when a man was tried 
before a Justice of the Peace, for threatening vio- 
lence to a woman. The accused man was Cyrus 
Foster, who lived on land which he owned, lying 
on the rising ground east of the farm of the widow 
Chandler. His habits were nearly savage. The 
miserable hut in which he lived, was little better 
than a hog-pen. His barn was so open, that his • 
cattle helped themselves from the hay-mow, or lay^ 
on it, as the case might happen. This same Foster 
was literally a misanthrope ; his hand was against 
every man, and every man's against him. The wife 
of Jacob Longfellow, his own cousin, was an object 



16 



of his most bitter hatred. Longfellow lived where 
Benjamin Gale now lives. Mrs. Longfellow having 
occasion to go to the Rowel place, instead of go- 
ing round by the highway, very innocently crossed 
Foster's land, by which she would save about two 
miles travel. The ferocious man saw her, and 
seizing a club, gave chase, threatening at the top 
of his harsh voice, to be the death of her. The 
frightened woman had just leaped the fence into 
the highway, when he got to the edge of his own 
premises. The victim having escaped, he wreaked 
his vengeance on an old stump, which he shivered 
to pieces. A warrant was served on Cyrus, and 
be was brought before 'Squire Hutchins. Payson 
was the prosecuting attorney, who set forth the 
atrocity of the case in glowing language. I felt a 
curiosity to know what defence Swan would make 
for his client, and was not a little amused to find 
him running his character lower than his accuser 
had done ; maintaining with all due gravity that as 
the savage habits of his client were" known to ev- 
ery body, it was every body's business to keep out 
of his way. The argument was so satisfactory, 
that the prisoner was discharged on paying a small 
fine. The wretched Foster once possessed a de- 
cent property, but died in the alms house. 
« When I settled here. Dr. Moore was the only 
physician.^ I believe he was the first physician 



*See Appendix. 



17 



who ever settled here. His house stood where the 
Minot house now stands. It was consumed by fire 
— the family narrowly escaping, in the middle of 
the night. Moore was not much of a book learned 
physician, but he had quite a knack of managing 
diseases. He was a very rough man, with a quick 
perception of the ludicrous ; but his drollery was 
apt to be very offensive to delicacy and modesty. 
He was superseded by Dr. Edward Dean, who im- 
mediately succeeded to almost all the practice in 
the place. Dean was an accomplished gentleman, 
a thorough scholar, a well read physician, cautious 
and successful in his profession, and meddled with 
no man's business but his own. Though not a pro- 
fessor of religion, his mind was of a religious turn ; 
a constant attendant on public worship, a decided 
believer in the orthodox system. He built the 
house that stands immediately east of the hotel, 
recently owned by Mr. Pratt. The doctor was 
small in person, and of a feeble constitution ; and 
whilst yet in middle life, was seriously attacked by 
consumption, under which he labored for several 
years. During the progress of his disease, his 
mind became deeply imbued with the religious prin- 
ciple. He had always believed the gospel as a 
matter of theory ; but he discovered to his sorrow, 
as he neared tha eternal world, that his faith was 
a dead faith ; and with bitter tears and strong cry- 
ing, did he beg of the Almighty to make him par- 
taker of that faith which is of the saving opera- 
2 



18 



tion of the Divine Spirit, which purifies the heart, 
overcomes the world, and works by love. 0, how 
have I heard him, in the bitterness of his soul, ex- 
claim, " Why did I not make the salvation of the 
soul, matter of the deepest investigation, when in 
the enjoyment of the undisturbed possession of all 
my intellectual faculties ?" He finally obtained 
peace in believing ; and I had the pleasing gratifi- 
cation of welcoming him into the bosom of the 
Christian church, and placing the seal of the cove- 
nant on his infant offspring. 

Next to physicians, I will pass on to merchants. 
James Mitchell was the only trader in the village 
when I came here. His house stood where the ho- 
tel now stands. Indeed, the wooden rear part of 
the hotel is the identical building. He was of a 
peculiarly mild and obliging disposition. He 
died at Boston, whither he had gone on business, 
and left his wife and two sons penniless. At least, 
I always believed that they were rendered so by 
the hard dealing of a near relation. I have the 
satisfaction of remembering, that I had it in my 
power to furnish her with a home, without money 
and without price, whilst she remained in Bath. 
She afterwards made a most imprudent marriage, 
and the report that reached me was, that she died 
of starvation ! David Mitchell succeeded his broth- 
er, and after flourishing for several years, became 
a total bankrupt j and took up his residence in the 



19 



wilderness of Indian Stream, where his wife labor- 
ed with him in clearing land. 

Samuel and James Hutchins were traders and 
farmers, on a large scale, in the upper village, in 
the early part of my ministry. Whether their fath- 
er, the old 'Squire as he used to be called, com- 
menced trading, I do not know ; but certain it is, 
that at an early period of the occupancy of this 
town, he came here from Haverhill, Mass. He 
seems to have purchased the rich lands, that are 
still in the possession of his descendants. By the 
time I knew him he was past active labor ; but had 
a most patriarchal appearance ; large frame, stout 
built. He was a man of few words, and rather 
distant and reserved in his manners. His words 
were sensible, and always to the point. I have 
room for only one of the many anecdotes related 
concerning him. A young man came to ask him to 
marry him, and inquired whether he would take 
truck pay for his fee. The old man had a habit of 
passing the back part of his right hand under his 
nose, when something that was not quite pleasant to 
him occurred. When this question was asked, the 
feature named had its customary touch, and with a 
gruff voice he answered, " That's a cash article." 
He had five sons. Joseph was the oldest; Mitchell 
was the youngest. Both were unfortunate in life. 

Samuel Hutchins had built the house in which 
his son Chester now lives, and kept tavern in it, be- 
fore I came herej and James had built the house 



20 



in which his widow still lives. They were in com- 
pany, and engaged largely in mercantile and farming 
business. Till their families were considerably ad- 
vanced, everything was held in common. Not an 
article from the store was ever charged. They 
were highly prosperous, and made large additions 
to their father's first purchases, particularly that 
fine farm that lies south of the village. John Mer- 
rill had cleared it, and erected good buildings. But 
he got into intemperate habits, and his sons were 
of no use to him, so he was obliged to sell. That 
he was naturally a shrewd man, is apparent from 
the manner of his discovering who stole a bag of 
wheat from his barn. He had put up a grist in the 
evening to carry to mill in the morning. When he 
went to take it, it was gone. He said nothing 
about the theft to any body. Some months after- 
wards, he was asked by one of his neighbors, if he 
had found out who stole his wheat. "Yes — now," 
said he. 

The Messrs. Hutchins, very judiciously, divided 
their large property some years before their death ; 
and thus probably prevented much difficulty in a fu- 
ture division of the estate. 

Another mercantile firm was formed at the low- 
er village, two or three years after my settlement, 
consisting of Haddock and Fry. They had lived in 
the village as mechanics. Not long after commenc- 
ing trading, they loaded two wagons with produce ; 
for which they ran in debt to the farmers j they 



21 



went to Boston, each driving a team. They sold 
the produce — loading with merchandize, paying a 
little, and getting as much as they could get on 
credit ; and, instead of returning home, pushed off 
for parts unknown. Months afterwards, an agent 
came and took their families away. Eventually it 
was ascertained they had gone with their ill-gotten 
goods to Buffalo. Little did these two men think 
of the tremendous retribution of the judgment of 
the great day, when together^ planning and execut- 
ing such a scheme of deliberate villainy ! 

The only mechanics of note here, in 1805, were 
the Sargent family. They were mill-wrights, father 
and sons. The father had come at a very early 
period of the settlement of the town, from one of 
the lower towns of the State. He bought the lot 
on which the village stands, of a man of the name 
of Mills, who had thrown a dam across the falls j 
and built a small mill. Sargent's purchase inclu- 
ded the water privilege, and the land on both sides, 
to the amount of one hundred acres. He soon re- 
paired the dam, and erected a large grist- mill, and 
saw mill. With the exception of one built by the 
proprietors on Mill brook, this was the first erec- 
tion of the kind north of Oliverian brook, in Ha- 
verhill. And to this mill the late Mr. Kinsman of 
Portland, told me, he had frequently been sent 
from his father's, in Lincoln, (now East Landaff,) 
with a grist on the back of a horse, guided most of 
the way by spotted trees. 



22 



Mr. Sargent was the founder of the village. 
The proprietorship of every house lot, and every 
acre in and around the village, is traceable to his 
title deeds. He was an ingenious mechanic, and 
had trained his sons to his own business. He was a 
good man and a lover of hospitality. For my in- 
troduction to Bath, I was obliged to him. He had 
heard me preach a certain Sabbath in Ryegate ; at 
the close of the services, he introduced himself to 
me, and told me they were erecting a meeting- 
house in his town, and were looking out for a min- 
ister, and engaged me to spend a Sabbath with 
them. And from that apparantly casual incident 
grew my residence here for about half a century. 

Before I knew Mr. Sargent, though a professor 
of religion, he was sometimes overcome by violent 
fits of passion ; but an incident occurred which led 
him to overcome his easily besetting sin. He had 
a young grafted apple tree in his garden, of which 
lie was very choice ; some supposed he almost 
worshipped it. The first year of its bearing it had 
four beautiful apples ; the first thing he did in the 
morning was to go to admire these first fruits. One 
morning to his great surprise they were all gone ! 
The temptation was too strong. He threw his hat 
on the ground — stamped on it, till it was as flat 
as a rag — uttering maledictions against the thief. 
Passion subsiding, reason returned. " What a fool 
am I," he mentally exclaimed, " My apples are gone 
— I have destroyed my hat — and if I have been 



23 



seen, mj character as a religious, if not as a sane 
man, is gone ! " Whilst thus musing, the fire of de- 
votion burned, and he formed the resolution, that, 
the Divine Spirit aiding, he would never allow pas- 
sion to overcome him again ; and for aught I know, 
he kept his resolution to the day of his death. 

Notwithstanding the advantages of the founder of 
the village, he became embarrassed in his circum- 
stances. He had given two sons a college edu- 
cation; the female part of the family were ex- 
travagant, and himself very slack in the manage- 
ment of his affairs. He found it necessary to dis- 
pose of all his real estate. He removed to Hano- 
ver, in virtue of his engaging to become Steward 
of the commons of College j for which oflSce, he 
and his family were totally unfit. The consequence 
was his total bankruptcy, and the annihilation of 
that ofi&ce. 

This aged man was furnished with a large fund 
of most appropriate anecdotes, which he used to 
relate with an admirable grace. One related to a 
tavern-keeper, who had two sides to his sign. On 
one side he had a crow painted yellow, with the in- 
scription, " In foreign climes are golden crows." 
On the other side he had a crow painted black, 
with this inscription, " Go there, you'll find them 
black as ours." Having a notion of going to the 
West, after his entire failure, his oldest son helped 
him, with the fragment of his family, to go to the 
State of Ohio. Having means to communicate 



24 



with him, after being there two or three years, I 
took occasion to remind him of the tavern-keeper's 
sign, and asked him if the representation was cor- 
rect. His reply was, that the tavern-keeper was a 
wise man and inscribed truth on his sign. 

Before I say anything of the deacons of the 
church, whom I found here, it may be proper to 
remark that a church had been formed some twenty 
years before.* It had been organized on the 
Presbyterian plan, by a Mr. Cleveland, who had 
been sent to dispose of lands in Landaff, as agent 
for Dartmouth College, that township having been 
granted to the College. The College grant was 
contested by other claimants, and lost in a suit at 
law ; and soon after Mr. Cleveland's removal, the 
Presbyterian Church ceased to exist, and the pres- 
ent Congregational Church was organized in its 
stead. The two original deacons were the acting 
officers, at the time of my settlement. Deacon 
Buck was a leading man in town, as well as in the 
Church. He had been a revolutionary soldier. — 
He had been brought up under the ministry of the 
famous Dr. Backus. He came here at a very early 
period of the settlement of the town. His first 
location was on the land where Aaron Hibbard now 
lives, which he exchanged for the place wliere hi3 
grandson Timothy H. Buck now lives. Before I 
came, he had built the house as it now stands. He 
was a tailor, and leather glove maker as well as 

*See Appendix. 



25 



farmer. Though a man of very ordinary education, 
and a very poor, ungrammatical writer, he sustained 
the office of Justice of the Peace, for many years, 
with great propriety. There must, in his day, have 
been much more business in that line, than at pres- 
ent. I remember that for many years he held a 
Justice Court at the village every Saturday. I be- 
lieve that according to the law of that time, he oc- 
casionally ordered wrong-doers to be flogged for 
their misdeeds. Deacon Buck was a constant 
church going man, and oftentimes on foot. He had 
the pleasure of seeing his four sons and two daugh- 
ters come into the same church with himself The 
deacon was no great favorite with the young peo- 
ple, who thought him rather severe and rigid, which 
was the opinion of some older people. My own 
opinion is, that he was a conscientious man, and of 
much use in the community. I have lived to see 
five generations in his dwelling house. 

Deacon Hibbard was brother-in-law to Deacon 
Buck. They exchanged farms, and the former liv- 
ed where his son still lives, near Swift Water. 
Though not so prominent, nor so wealthy as the 
other, he was a more lovely man, and was highly 
esteemed in the community. 

After the church was enlarged, by two very hap- 
py revivals, Samuel Lang was chosen a third dea- 
con. He was the father of a very large family. 
He cleared the farm on which his son Sherburn lives, 
— on which he lived and on which he died. He 



26 

was a valuable man, and if any peculiarity deserves 
to be noticed, it is, that his prayers were always 
strikingly appropriate. 

Designing a mere sketch, -- 1 must notice the 
farming interest very briefly. I found six brothers 
here, by the name of Bartlett, heads of families. 
The father of the Bartletts had removed from New- 
ton, in the South part of the State. He seems to 
have been rich in intellect, but poor in purse —his 
whole worldly gear having been brought to Coos, 
on an ox sled. His family consisted of a wife, six 
sons, and three daughters. His first pitch in this 
town was on the meadow south of the village, 
which happened to be cleared. While there, tie 
father Bartlett was chosen by the town, to present 
a petition to the Legislature. His career terminat- 
ed sorrowfully; while attending to the duties of 
his agency, he suddenly fell down dead in front of 
the Court House. 

Michael, the oldest son, settled on the place 
where his nephew Beri now lives. He was a pru- 
dent, peaceable, diligent, church-going man. A 
luckless suretiship sadly crippled his temporal con- 
cerns towards the close of his life. Stephen, the 
second son, was a brilliant genius, fond of reading 
and loafing more than business. He settled on the 
plain, part of which is the village burying ground. 
Though wanting in thrift and energy himself, his 
sons rose to respectability and worth. The oldest, 
Stephen, was a lovely young man. He was bred a 



27 



saddler ; but such were his aspirations for the gos- 
pel ministry, that he had pushed his way half 
through college; when he was arrested by the sum- 
mons of death. He died in the hands of the sur- 
geons, whilst amputating a diseased limb. A mon- 
ument in the burying ground of Dartmouth, marks 
the esteem in which he was held by his classmates. 

Amos was the father of Deacon Stephen N.Bart- 
lett. He settled on the place where his son now 
lives. He was a sensible, intelligent man, peace- 
able and beloved in the community. For many years 
he was the chorister. Whilst yet in mid-life he 
was suddenly called into eternity. In the midst of 
a dark night his wife discovered that somethino- 
uncommon ailed him ; she sprang from bed, lighted 
a candle j but when she reached the bed-side, she 
found herself a widow 1 

John Bartlett was the fifth son. He had settled 
on the place from which his son Samuel removed 
lately. He was fond of merry company, and the 
use of musical instruments ; he was an active mem- 
ber of the choir, and always carried .his bass viol 
to meeting ; and often have I seen him riding Vhat 
seemed a half broken colt prancing and caperino-, 
he holding the bridle in the one hand, and the viol 
in the other. His sun set in darkness. 

Josiah Bartlett, the youngest son, in early life 
was grievously afflicted with rheumatism ; indeed, 
was considered as doomed to be a cripple , but he 
recovered so as to be a laborious man ; though 



28 



somewhat lame all his days. He married a grand- 
daughter of the first President Wheelock. She 
was very young and very beautiful. They began 
house-keeping, with hardly a table, chair, or bed ; 
but lived to bring up a pretty numerous and well 
educated family; one having obtained a college 
education. The mother of the family suffered much 
by sickness. She was truly one of the excellent 
of the earth. 

Next to the Bartlett's, the Child's name was the 
most numerous. Ezra Child was the first settler 
of that name. He began to clear the land on which 
the widow Walker now lives ; but sold it, and 
bought the place where Baxter Deming now lives. 
He was a strong minded man ; but unfortunately, 
was very willful, positive and over-bearing. Before 
I came here, he had been excluded from the church. 
When my settlement was contemplated, he hinted 
to me that if I got him restored to the church, he 
would give me his countenance. But declining any 
treaty of that kind, he opposed my call. At the 
town-meeting that voted my call, he was very clam- 
orous against it. A man of the name of Tissot, 
who had come to this country among the Hessian 
troops, had at the close of the war, concluded that 
instead of fighting the Americans, he would live 
among them. He had settled on the land now 
owned by Ephraim Clough. This German, in his 
broken English, asked Mr. Child what objection he 
had to the young minister, as almost every other 



20 



person was pleased with him. " A foreigner — a 
foreigner/' said Child. " A foreigner ! " replied 
Tissot in an indignant tone, " Mr. Child, vat be 
ye ? " " Why, an American." " Yell, vot be your 
fader ? " ^^ Why, an American." " And then vot 
be his fader ? " Still the reply was " an American." 
" Veil Mr. Child, once more, vat his fader ? " Still 
the answer was " an American." " Then," said the 
German, " he he von Ijidian ! " 

After my settlement, Mr. Child would not attend 
meeting, pay his minister tax, nor enter his name 
as a dissenter ; and I invariably abated his tax. 
When I exchanged, he was sure to be in his pew, 
which induced the wags to ask him, at whose ex- 
pense he heard sermons on those days ? Towards 
the close of life he became poor, when, in conse- 
quence of paying him every attention in my power, 
he became perfectly reconciled to me. I pleased 
him mightily in the sermon I preached at his wife's 
funeral, and he engaged me to preach at his own. 

John and Dudley Child were the cousins of 
Ezra, and his brothers-in-law by marriage, which 
circumstance brought these valuable citizens to the 
town of Bath. Both came, as they became of age, 
and I believe both brought about the same amount 
of property; a horse, saddle and bridle, and a 
change of apparel. The grand-father of these 
young men had been a wealthy farmer ; their fath- 
er took the homestead, engaging to pay off the 
heirs ; in doing which he lost his all. He died in 
3 



30 



early life, leaving a numerous family in destitute 
circumstances. He seems to have been a very de- 
vout man ; and expressed strong confidence that 
God would provide abundantly for his destitute 
children ; and this confidence was fully honored. 
John labored for sometime as a hired man, with 
Ezra, and then bought his place, on which he lived 
the greater part of his life. He was a very labo- 
rious man, and accumulated a large estate. He 
resolved that no son of his should be ruined by 
paying off heirs. He paid them off himself; and 
for a common farmer, it was a pretty ample inherit- 
ance. Dudley followed in the same course, and 
although I believe, did not accumulate so large an 
estate, yet he became a wealthy farmer. For years 
he was an officer of the church. 

The mother and sisters of John and Dudley 
Child, came to the town in very early times. Sam- 
uel Hutchins, Samuel West, Ebenezer Sanborn, 
Ebenezer Deming and David Weeks, became the 
husbands of the sisters. 

I found two brothers of the name of Hibbard; 
one the deacon already mentioned, the other Col. 
Aaron Hibbard, who cleared the farm on w^hich his 
son Hazen lives. He added surveying to his farm- 
ing business. He reared a large family, most of 
whom have prospered in the world. He was one 
of nature's gentlemen. 

That portion of the town on the west of the 
mountain, has always been considered as contain- 



31 



ing one eighth part of the property, and the same 
proportion of the population. Phineas Cham- 
berlain, and Solomon Smith, were in married life 
when I came here, and are so still ; the only coup- 
les that remain. Batchelder and Hindman occupy 
their fathers' places. The Johnsons and Blodg- 
ets came into town the same year with me. The 
residue are gone, root and branch. The Hadlocks, 
the Sanborns, Beards, Blakes, Dodges, Hurds and 
Annises, have given place to the Wardens, Bedels, 
Hastings, Carbees, Holts, and Abbotts. 

On the east side of the river, Hutchins, Tewks- 
bury, Hibbard, and Hancock, occupy the places of 
their fathers. On the west, are the Weeks, the 
Dows, the Hastings, the Woods, the Langs, the 
Hibbards, the Bucks, the Bartletts, and the Minots, 
occupying the places of their fathers. There are 
six Childs, sons of former residents, but not living 
on the original places. 

There are many places in which within my recol- 
lection, families lived, where hardly a vestige of 
human habitation remains. Of these I have count- 
ed seventy- three, not reckoning old buildings that 
have been replaced by new ones. 

In the year 1833, the village meeting-house was 
erected, which caused a division in town, and some 
bitterness of feelino;. The church was divided, and 
formed into two, hardly knowing which could claim 
to be the original, as the numbers were nearly 
equal. The church at the old meeting-house pro- 



B2 



cured the services of an Englishman of the name 
of Nichols, who soon lost his health, and died of a 
lingering consumption. He was a plausible man, 
and was useful, particularly in creating a relish for 
learning among youth who attended his school. 

Edward Cleaveland became my immediate suc- 
cessor in the village church, in the beginning of 
18-43 ; at which time I resigned my pastoral office. 
He continued seven years j was an accurate schol- 
ar, very logical in the structure of his sermons. He 
was of use whilst here in bringing the churches to- 
gether, and building the Academy. 

Besides those already mentioned as being in 
married life when I settled here, there are the "wid- 
ows of James Hutchins, James Smith, John Child, 
and Samuel Minot. Abiel Swett, Peasely Gordon, 
and Ebenezer Ricker are widowers. 

There are at the present time, according to my 
reckoning, two hundred and thirtv-two dwellino- 
houses. Forty-eight of these are occupied by de- 
scendants of parents who were in town when I 
came ; thirty of these have not undergone much 
change, externally, at least. Chester C. Hutchin's, 
the widow Hutchin's and John L. Carlcton's houses 
are of the number. There are fourteen of our 
finest looking houses that contain more or less por- 
tions of former structures,* twenty-seven of the 
houses are new structures, erected on the sites of 
old ones ; and there are one hundred and sixty- 
one that I find to be erected on entirely new 
ground, since my residence. Thirty-one of these 



33 



are in Swift "Water and yicinity; as that portion 
of the town was an entire wilderness at that time. 
Forty-five are added to the village, including both 
sides of the river. Nor have the buildings altered 
as much as the inhabitants. Joseph Fifield is the 
only being of those who were here in my early 
time. He was a lad of sixteen, an apprentice to 
John Haddock. 

I have no means of ascertaining the number of 
deaths that have occurred. It is true I kept a rec- 
ord many years ; but for the first few years I did 
not think of it, and the last few years, it fell more 
naturally into other hands. For years the average 
number was nineteen; but in the year 1842, it 
amounted to the alarming number of seventy-four. 
To me it is most truly affecting to go into the bury- 
ing grounds of the town. When I came, there was 
not a single grave-stone with an inscription; and 
now, how many ! And in looking over them sue* 
cessively, I can hardly see the name of one indi- 
vidual who was not, with more or less frequency 
an attendant on my ministry. And how solemn 
the consideration, that I have to meet them all at 
the judgment of the Great Day. Although I have 
no full record of the deaths in town, I have a re- 
cord of the marriages I have solemnized, but these 
are by no means confined to the town of Bath. 
My last number was four hundred and twenty-two. 
I have officiated at least, at three funerals for every 
wedding. 

3' 



34 



With the exception of attendance on public wor- 
ship, great and manifold have been the improve- 
ments in the town of Bath. The modern houses 
are constructed with better taste, and warmed more 
comfortably and at less expense, than those in for- 
mer use. For many years we had no stove in the 
old meeting house ; and yet I believe we had more 
people in the bitterest cold day in winter, than 
now attend in all our places of worship, in the 
warmest day in summer. 

Travelling accommodations are altogether bet- 
ter. During several of the first years of my resi- 
dence here, there was not a single wheel carriage. 
Men and women rode on horseback, wives riding 
behind their husbands on pillions ; and not unfre- 
quently ladies, old and young, on men's saddles, 
though not in male fashion. Not many years elapsed 
before the Paysons and Hutchins had introduced 
chaises,"^ and by and by the present wagons came 
into use. 

The roads likewise deserve particular notice. 
They are all kept in better repair ; and the new 
ones are of great and manifest utility. Such is the 
road that runs by the margin of the wild Ammonu- 
suc from Swift Water ; and such is that which runs 
from Woodsville to Moulton Hill. But the great- 
est improvement is the Narrows road, which has 
thrown open one of the most useful thoroughfares 
in the county. 

*See Appendix. 



35 



Such is tlie sketch I have drawn of the reminis- 
cences of this town. And now permit me to ex- 
press my gratitude for the expression of respect 
given by the very numerous attendance on this bit- 
ter cold evening, and the profound attention given 
to my indistinct reading. I am now addressing 
this vast multitude of the inhabitants of Bath, for 
the last time. I am standing on the brink of my 
eternity, and presently must give an account of my 
ministry. My hope of acceptance before God 
rests entirely on the Great Atonement of my Sa- 
viour. Had I preached with more fidelity, and in- 
finitely more success, and had I had vast riches to 
bestow on charitable objects with profusion, I 
would renounce it all, and cling exclusively to the 
sacrifice of Christ. But mind me, had I professed 
this faith, and neglected to live soberly, righteous- 
ly and godlily, I should consider myself a lost man I 
But that course of life has afforded me infinite sat- 
isfaction these sixty years ; and such a course of 
life I earnestly urge on every one of you, that our 
next meeting, at the judgment seat, may be with 
joy and not with grief. Finally — Farewell. 



i 



i 



PREFACE TO THE APPENDIX. 



The large audience, -who listened to the foregoing address, 
voted to request a copy for the press ; and appointed A. S. 
Woods, I. Goodall, and T. Boutelle, a committee of publication. 
Believing that the present generation would be interested in 
some of the more prominent events connected with the origin 
and history of the town, particularly s uch as occurred previous 
to Rev. Mr. Sutherland's settlement, this committee decided to 
have an appendix prepared and published with it, containing 
such facts. The labor of preparing the appendix, devolved 
upon the subscriber. When it had been nearly completed, it 
was thought desirable by the committee and others, that the 
original plan should be enlarged, so that this appendix might 
embrace some of the more important facts relating to the history 
of Bath down to the present time. The carrying out of this 
enlarged plan, has caused a much greater amount of labor than 
was anticipated, thereby occasioning an unexpected delay in its 
publication. 

The records of the Proprietors, of the Town, and of the 
Church, have all been carefully examined, and selections made 



38 



therefrom of whatever seemed appropriate ; while many tradi- 
tionary facts, that were fast going into oblivion, have been gath- 
ered up and here embodied. Knowing that the value of such 
a work depends greatly upon its accuracy, no pains have been 
spared to have all its statements authentic and reliable. What- 
ever seemed doubtful has been excluded ; while some things 
published in Papers and Gazetteers have been corrected. 
Perfect accuracy has been aimed at; yet after all, some inac- 
curacies will doubtless be found, for to avoid them is almost im- 
possible in so large a number of facts, names and dates. If it 
contains little of deep and stirring interest, it is because the 
history of Bath has been peaceful and quiet, exhibiting few 
events of a remarkable and thrilling character. 

The author would express his obligations to most of the aged 
people in town, and to many others, for information which they 
have furnished, and especially to Hon. A. S. Woods, I. Goodall, 
Esq., and Isaac Patterson, Esq., for much valuable assistance. 

T. BOUTELLE. 
Bath, July 1855. 



i 



APPENDIX. 



GEOGEAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN. 

Bath is situated in Grafton County, in latitude 44° 10^ 
It is forty-one miles from Dartmouth College, eighty-two 
from Concord, and one hundred and fifty from Boston. It 
is bounded on the north by Munroe and Lyman, east by 
LandafF, south by Haverhill, and west by the west bank of 
the Connecticut Biver. It is pleasantly located in the valley 
of this river, being protected from violent winds and furious 
storms by the Green Mountains on the west, and the White 
Mountains on the east. The Ammonoosuc Biver enters the 
town near its northeast corner, and, after pursuing a circuit- 
ous course and receiving the waters of the Wild Ammonoo- 
suc four miles from its mouth, empties into the Connecticut at 
the southwest angle of the town. 

Near the confluence of these rivers, Gardner's Mountain 
rises with a bold ascent, and extends, in a northerly direction 
and nearly parallel with the Connecticut Biver, the whole 
length of the town. On this mountain, in several localities, 
are found valuable copper mines ; the ore from one of these 
when analyzed, was found to contain thirty-two per cent, of 
copper, thirty-three per cent, of iron, and thirty-one per cent, 
of sulphur ; thus showing that *' it is abundantly worthy of 
being wrought." Small veins of argentiferous galena, (a 



40 

compound of lead and silver) are also found on this moun- 
tain, on the town farm, and in other localities. 

The soil on the hills is a reddish loam, resting on a bed of 
marl; but in the valleys, the soil is alluvial.^ About one 
eighth of the town consists of interval land. Brick clay of 
excellent quality, is abundant. In a Gazetteer of New 
Hampshire, just published, it is said that " Bath is one of the 
best agricultural towns in the State, much and careful atten- 
tion having been devoted for many years to this department 
of labor." ^ 

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF BATH, AND ROYAL 
CHARTER. 

The town of Bath was first surveyed in 1760, by markino- 
its corners, and designating it as No. 10, on the Connecticut 
River ; Haverhill being No, 9, Lyman No. 11, and Charles- 
town No. 4. In 1761, a charter of the town was granted to 
Andrew Gardner and sixty-one others. Gardner came in 
1765, and settled on what is known as the Gardner place, be- 
tween the upper and lower villages ; and Ebenezer Richard- 
son and Benjamin Sawyer are supposed to have come the 
same year. The next year, 1766, John Sawyer commenc- 
ed a settlement on the Hutchins' meadow in the upper vil- 
lage, and Jaasiel Herriman, by the great rock at the lower end 
of the lower village. At that time there were four wigwams 
occupied by Indians, between him and the Wild Ammonoo- 
suc. During this and the year following, several others came 
in, among whom were Moses Pike, who made his first pitch 
on the island at the upper village, Samuel Martin, Elijah 
King, Deliverance Sawyer, John Hew, and William East- 
man ; the latter settled above the upper village, on what is 



41 



now known as the Newell farm. The records of the proprie- 
tors in 1767, speak of *' twenty-two settlers having made 
their various pitches and wrought upon them more or less ;" 
thus showing that at least this number were here as early as 
that period. 

One of the provisions of the first Charter required, " that 
every grantee shall plant and cultivate five acres of land, 
within the term of five years, for every fifty acres contained 
in his share, and continue to improve and settle the same by 
additional cultivations, on penalty of the forfeiture of his 
grant or share in said township." This provision not having 
been complied with, the original Charter was forfeited, and a 
second one was granted, in 1769. As some of its statements 
may be instructive, and as the present generation may be in- 
terested in the Royal method of doing such things, it is here 
inserted. 

^roHua of ^^fo fjampsl^ire. 

George the third, by the grace of God of Great Brit- 
ain, France ana Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, & so 
forth. 

Whereas, by the Petition of Nehemiah Lovewell & 
others his associates Proprietors in the Township of Bath, 
acknowledged to be forfeited by not complying with the 
Terms of Settlements in the Charter, & praying for a renew- 
al of the same — that they may be quieted in their several 
settlements & the delinquent shares be granted to them, 
which being considered — 

Therefore 

Know" ye, that we of our special Grace, certain 
knowledge & mere motion, for the due encouragement of set- 
tling said new Plantation within our said Province, by and 
with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved John Went- 
4 



42 



WORTH, Esq. our Governor and Commander in chief of our 
said Province of New Hampshire in New England, & of our 
Council of the said Province, Have, upon the conditions & 
reservations herein after made, given & granted, & by these 
Presents for us our heirs and successors, Do give & grant 
in equal shares unto our Loyal Subjects Inhabitants of our 
said Province of New Hampshire & our other Governments, 
who hath Petitioned us for the same, setting forth their readi- 
ness to make immediate Settlements, & to their heirs & as- 
signs forever, whose names are entered on this Grant, to be 
divided to & amongst them into One hundred equal shares, 
all that Tract or Parcel of Land known by the name of 
Bath, situate lying & being within our Province of New 
Hampshire, containing by admeasurement Twenty thousand 
& ninety acres— which is to contain something less than six 
miles square, out of which an allowance is to be made for 
highways & unimproveable lands by Rocks, ponds, mount- 
ains & rivers. One thousand & forty acres free, according to 
a plan and survey thereof exhibited by our Surveyor Gener- 
al by our said Governor's order & returned into the Secre- 
tary's office, & hereunto annexed, butted & bounded as fol- 
lows, viz : Beginning at the Mouth of Ammonoosuc river 
at a Pine Tree marked with the Figures 9 & 10, & with the 
Letters BW, thence up the Connecticut River as that tends 
to a pine tree marked with the Figures 10 & 11, which is al- 
so the Southwest corner bounds of Lyman, thence turning off 
and running South Fifty-five degrees East six miles to a beech 
tree marked BL, CLD, from thence South two degrees East 
six miles & 14 chains to a spruce tree marked BB, thence 
turning off again and running North Fifty-five degrees West 
six miles & one quarter of a mile to the bounds first men- 
tioned—To have and to hold the said Tract of Land as 
above expressed, together with all the Privileges & appur- 



43 



tenances to them & their respective heirs & assigns forever, 
bj the name of Bath aforesaid, upon the following conditions 
viz : (First.) That the said Grrantees shall settle or cause 
to be settled Twelve Families who shall be actually culti- 
vating some part of the Land, & resident thereon, on or be- 
fore the first day of May 1770, & to continue making furth- 
er & additional improvement, cultivation & settlement of the 
premises, so that there shall be actually settled & resident 
thereon Sixty Families by the first day of May, 1774, on 
penalty of the forfeiture of such Delinquent's share, & of 
such shares reverting to us our heirs & successors to be by 
us or them entered upon & regranted to such of our sub- 
jects as shall effectually settle & cultivate the same. (Sec- 
ond.) That all white and other Pine Trees within the said 
Township fit for masting our Royal Navy, be carefully pre- 
served for that use, & none to be cut or felled without our 
special License for so doing first had & obtained, upon the 
Penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such Grantee his 
heirs & assigns, to us our heirs &d successors, as well as be- 
ing subject to the Penalty of any act or acts of Parliament 
that now or hereafter shall be enacted. (Third.) That be- 
fore any Division of the Land be made to & marked out for 
Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the centre of said Town- 
ship as the land will admit of, shall be reserved & marked 
out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each 
Grantee, of the contents of one acre. (Fourth.) Yielding 
& paying therefor, to us our Heirs & successors, on or be- 
fore the first day of May 1770, the rent of one ear of Indian 
Corn only If Lawfully demanded. (Fifth.) That every 
Proprietor, Settler or Inhabitant shall yield & pay unto us 
our heirs & successors yearly & every year forever, from & 
after the expiration of one year from the above said first of 
May which will be In the year of our Lord 1771, One Shil- 



44 

ling Proclamation money, for every hundred acres he so 
owns, settles or possesses, & so in proportion for a greater 
or less tract of the said Land, which shall be paid by the re- 
spective Persons abovesaid their heirs or assigns in onr Coun- 
cil Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such officer or officers as 
shall be appointed to receive the same. (Sixth.) And 
that a good Wagon Road, not less than two rods wide, be laid 
out and cut through the said Town, by or before the first day 
of May 1770, on penalty of the forfeiture of the premises, and 
these to be in lieu of all other rents & services whatsoever. 

In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our 
said Province to be hereto affixed — Witness John Went- 
WORTH Esquire, our Governor and Commander in chief of 
our said Province of New Hampshire, this Twenty Ninth 
day of March in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand 
seven hundred and Sixty nine, and in the Ninth year of our 
Keign. 

By his Excellency's Command with advice of Council. 

T. ATKINSON, Jr., Sec'y. 

Province of Neio \ Portsmouth, March 9th, 1769. 
Hampshire, j Recorded in the book of Patents. 
T. ATKINSON, Jr. Sec'y. 

Among the one hundred names of Grantees to whom this 

Charter was given, are found the following : 

John Sawyer, Timothy Barron, 

John Hazen, Samuel Sandbor'n, 

Moses Pike, Benjamin Sajidborn, 

John Hew, Ebenezer Richardson, 

James Dodge, Joseph Herriman, 

Edward Blair, Jaasiel Herriman, 



45 



Daniel Been, 
Elijah King, 
Timothy Bedel, 
Bobcrt Bedel, 
Moody Bedel, 
Cyrus Bedel, 
John Bacon, 
William Belknap, 
Nathaniel Merrill, 
Jotham Rindge, 
Joshua Bayley, 
Jacob Bayley, Esq., 
Israel Morey, Esq., 
Isaac Rindge, Esq., 
Clement March, Esq. , 

Hon. Theodore 



Nehemiah Lovewell, 
John Hastings, 
Benjamin Sawyer, 
Robert Gilman, 
Philip Gilman, 
Paul March, 
Joseph March, 
James Bayley, 
Deliverance Sawyer, 
Nathan Caswell, 
Abner Bayley, 
Jonathan Bayley, Esq., 
John Hurd, Esq., 
Nath'l P. Sargent, Esq., 
Joseph Wright, Esq., 
Atkinson. 



Considerable additions were made to the number of set- 
tlers, soon after the granting of the second Charter. Among 
those who now came here, were John Waters, Benjamin 
Lee, Joseph Tilden, John Beard, Ezekiel Colby, Robert 
Bedel, Daniel Bedel, Abel Chase, Noah Moulton, Edward 
Bailey, William Belknap, Benjamin Prentiss, Francis Ful- 
lerton, Reuben Foster, John Sandborn, and Ebenezer Sand- 
born ; the latter settled on the farm now belonging to S. and 
W. Minot, and Daniel Bedel on that now occupied by Na- 
than Hunt. Samuel Titus also came about the same time 
and commenced on the west side of the Ammonoosuc, on 
what is known as the Harris farm, now belonging to Martin 
and Seth Chamberlin. Col. Timothy Bedel, one of the 
Proprietors under the last Charter, moved to Bath, from Ha- 
verhill, in 1769, and settled on the Bedel farm, (on the west 
side of the Ammonoosuc and southwest of the Newell farm) 
4* 



46 



now owned by Albert Gr. Moulton.* About the same time 
Jolin Dodge, came and established himself at Dodge's Falls 
on the Connecticut River. 

Widow James Smith (who was born in 1772) says that 
her father, David Weeks, who was originally from Greenland, 
N. H., moved to Bath from Newbury, in March, 1774, and 
settled on the Weeks farm. All that part of the town was 
then a wilderness, and the Indians were often seen in this 
region. As the Charter required that sixty families should 
be actually settled and resident in the town by the first of 
May, 1774, on penalty of forfeiting their shares, it is proba- 
ble that this number had come in and settled at that time ; 
but the names of many of them are unknown. 

When the Eevolutionary war commenced, in 1775, many 

*Col. B. came to Haverhill from Salem N. H., in 1763 or 4. At the 
breaking out of the war of the Eevolution, in 1775, he left Bath and re- 
turned to Haverhill, where he resided till his death, in 1787. Before he 
removed from this town, he was elected a member of " the Congress of 
New Hampshire, " which met at Exeter in 1775, and served for a time 
in this capacity. During the war, he raised four different regiments, 
two of which he commanded and led to Canada; one of them in 1775, 
where he was under the command of General Montgomery; the other 
a year or twolatei-, when .Gen. Arnold held the command in that Prov- 
ince. He was also a volunteer in the army of Gen. Gates at the bat- 
tle of Saratoga, when Burgoyne was captured. 

Gen. Moody Bedel was the son of Timothy. Though he was but five 
years old when the second Charter was granted, his name, with that of 
some of his brothers, is found in that instrument. He came to Bath 
with his father, and returned with him to Havei'hill. He also accompa- 
nied his father to Canada, in both of his expeditions ; in the first as his 
son and attendant, and in the second as an enlisted soldier, discharging 
the duties of Issuing Commissary to his father's regiment. When the 
last war with England commenced, he was a Bi-igadier General of the 
Militia, and obtained a Colonel's commission in the army. He distin- 
guished himself in the brilliant sortie at Fort Erie, in 1814. He came 
back to Bath in 1824, and resided here during the remainder of his life. 
He died Jan. 13, 1841, aged 77 years. 



47 



of the settlers left, as this place was north of the Regiment 
stationed at North Haverhill to guard the frontiers from the 
savages, Canadians, and Tories. A fort was built on East- 
man's meadow, into which was collected all the families that 
remained, together with some from Landaff and Lisbon. 
No enemy, however, came to molest them during the war. 
But Mrs. Smith, (then a little girl,) says they were once 
dreadfully frightened. It happened thus : the miller, on re- 
turning from the mill to the fort, one evening just before 
dark, descried in the edge of the woods what he supposed to 
be an Indian. Starting to run, as he cast a look behind, he 
saw the supposed Indian running in pursuit, swinging his 
arms and shouting. He hastened to the fort as for life, ex- 
claiming, " The Indians are coming, the Indians are com- 
ing ! " In great alarm all rushed into the fort and turned 
their eyes in the direction from which the miller had come ; 
when lo ! "Black Sarah," (a colored woman,) made her 
appearance ! On perceiving that she had frightened the 
miller, she started after him upon the run, hallooing and 
beckoning to him, to let him know that she was not an enemy 
— hence the terrible panic. 

The danger from the war did not prevent some settlers 
from coming before its close. Mark Sandborn came in 1779, 
and pitched on the farm now owned by Warren Bass — his 
was one of the first settlements in the east part of the town. 

Soon after the close of the war, many others came and 
settled in Bath ; among whom were several persons of enter- 
prise and influence, and who for a long time were leading 
men in the town. 

Ezra Child came from Woodstock, Conn., in 1782, and 
the next Spring moved his family here, and commenced on 
the farm now belonging to Widow Walker, (his house was 
about half way between hers and that of Samuel M. Bart- 



48 



lett.) In a few years he removed to the place now occu- 
pied by Baxter Deraing, and there kept a public house — 
the first opened in Bath. 

Jeremiah Hutchins came in 1783, with a large family, 
from Haverhill, Mass., and began at the upper village; 
where he soon opened a tavern and store which in process of 
time became much celebrated. He had five sons and six 
daughters ; two of the former, Samuel and James, succeed- 
ed to his business, and continued to carry it on together for 
many years. 

In the early part of 1784, Jacob Hurd came from Haver- 
hill and lived upon the farm belonging to his father, Col. 
John Hurd,* and now owned by Ezra Child. His residence 
was north of the old meeting-house, on the road leading from 
the burying-ground to the Weeks neighborhood. Mr. John 
Way occupied this farm, as tenant, previous to his death in 
the latter part of 1784. 

Stephen Bartlett also came in 1784, with six sons and two 
daughters, from Newton in this State, and encamped at first 
by the side of the great rock just below Bath village. 

During the same year Timothy and Aaron Hibbard came 
from Woodstock, Conn., and settled on farms adjoining ; the 
latter where his son A. Hazen Hibbard now resides, the 



*Col. Hurd was one of the Proprietors of the town. He was origin- 
ally a lawyer in Boston ; but having removed to Portsmouth in this 
State, he became Secretary to Gov. Wentworth, and while acting in 
this capacity had his name inserted as one of the Proprietors of Bath, 
also of Lyman, Lisbon, and other towns in this vicinity. The Govern- 
or having left the country at the commencement of the Kevolutionary 
war, Col. H. came to this section of the State, and at length settled in 
Haverhill, where he resided several years. He finally retunaed to Bos- 
ton and died there. The farms now belonging to E. Child, H. Buck, S. 
Lang, A. W. Woods, and some others, at one time were all owned by him . 
He also gave the land on which the old meeting-house was built. 



49 



former on that afterwards owned and occupied by Deacon 
Buck. 

John Child came from Woodstock, Conn., in 1786, and 
after a few years purchased and settled upon the farm now 
occupied by Widow Walker. When near sixty years of age, 
he removed to where his son Dwight P. Child now lives. 
Not long after his arrival here, he was followed by his broth- 
er Dudley and six sisters. Dudley settled on the farm now 
belonging to Wm. Lang, Esq.; in later years he removed to 
where his son Dudley now resides. 

Amasa Buck came also in 1786, from Somers, Conn. 
He first commenced in the east part of the town on the farm 
now occupied by Aaron Hibbard ; he afterwards exchanged 
farms with deacon Timothj Hibbard, and for the remainder 
of his life resided where his grandson, Timothy H. Buck, now 
, lives. 

Henry Hancock came the same year and settled on the 
farm where his son, Thomas Hancock, now resides. Mr. H. 
was a native of England ; emigrated to this country in 1770 ; 
after residing a year or two at New Haven, Conn., he re- 
moved to Lyman ; after the war commenced, he went to Ha- 
verhill and there remained till 1786, when he came and set- 
tled in Bath. 

Aaron Powers, Roger Sargent, and Maxi Haseltine, also 
came about the same time, as their names appear upon the 
town records at this date. 

Wilham and Samuel Lang came a year or two later, from 
Portsmouth, N. H., — the latter settled upon the farm now 
occupied by his son Sherburne Lang. Andrew Woods came 
in 1793, and settled upon the farm now belonging to his son, 
William Arthur Woods. 



50 



FIRST TOWN MEETING AND EXTRACTS FROM 
THE TOWN RECORDS. 

The first town meeting held in Bath, was in 1784. Pre- 
vious to this, the business of the township had been transact- 
ed by the Proprietors. Desirous of securing a regular town 
organization, several of the inhabitants, in May of this year 
presented a petition to Moses Dow, Esq., of Haverhill, jus- 
tice of the peace, stating that they had " no town officers nor 
any regular method of calling a meeting for the choice of the 
same," and requesting him to call a meeting for that pur- 
This petition was signed by 



pose 



Ezra Child, 
Jeremiah Hutchins. 
Moses Pike, 
Aaron Powers, 
John Waters, 
John Lapish, 



Thomas Wheeler, 
Aaron Bailey, 
Heman Amy, 
David Weeks, 
John Rowell, 
Moses Pike, Jr. 



Pursuant to the above request, a warrant for a town meet- 
ing was issued by Mr. Dow, which was held, July 26, 1784, 
at the dwelling house of Mr. John Way. The fo'llowing 
were the town officers chosen at this meeting, viz :— 



Moderator . 
Mr. John Way. 

Selectmen. 
Capt. Jeremiah Hutchins, 
Capt Ebenezer Sandborn, 
Mr. Ezra Child. 

Ty thing Men. 
Mr. Aaron Bailey, 
Mr. Ezra Child. 



Town Clerk. 
Mr. Jacob Hurd. 

Fence Viewers. 
Mr. John Merrill, 
Mr. Aaron Hibbard. 

Surveyor of Lumber. 
Capt. Jeremiah Hutchins. 
Sealer of Weights and Meas. 
Mr. Jacob Hurd. 



51 



Constable. 


Hog Reeves. 


Mr. Mark Sandborn. 


Mr. Elisha Cleaveland, 


Highway Surveyors. 


Mr. John Rowell. 


Mr. John Merrill, 


Sealer of Leather. 


Mr. Daniel Mills, 


Mr. Moses Eastman. 


Capt. Ebenezer Sandborn, 


Pound Keeper. 


Dea. John Jewett, 


Caj)t. Ebenezer Sandborn 


Mr. David Powers. 





At a subsequent town meeting, in August of the same 
year, it was voted, " that the sum of forty pounds be raised 
for repairing the highways and bridges ; that four shillings be 
allowed for each day's work done on the highway ;" and the 
same " for each yoke of oxen ; " also, " that the sum of eight 
pounds be raised for defraying the town charges." 

At the regular town meeting, in March 1785, it was voted 
to raise seventy pounds for repairing the highways and bridg- 
es; seven pounds for defraying the town charges ; and ** that 
the price of wheat be six shillings, Indian Corn three shil- 
lings, and peas six shillings, that may be received for defraying 
the town charges." Also voted, "that Capt. Ebenezer 
Sandborn's barnyard be pound for the ensuing year." 

March 16, 1785, '* the freeholders and other inhabitants 
of the towns of Bath, Lyman, LandafF, Concord alias Gunth- 
wait (now Lisbon), Littleton, Dalton, Lancaster, Dartmouth, 
Northumberland, Stratford, Cockburn and Colburn, qualified 
to vote for a Representative," met at the house of Mr. Wil- 
liam Eastman, in Bath, and chose " Maj. John Young as a 
member of the General Court to be convened at Portsmouth 
on the first Wednesday of June " following.* 

*The tradition, that Mr. Stephen Bartlett was chosen at this tinae as 
the Representativo of this District, is incorrect. For we learn from the 



52 



In 1786, the town voted " that the inhabitants bring in 
their accounts of the services they did in the late war ; " 
that Ezra Child, Jeremiah Hutchins, and Jacob Hurd, be a 
committee to receive the accounts ; and that Ezra Child be 
an agent to attend the General Court and present the ac- 
counts. Also voted " that a public post be erected at or 
near the dwelling house of Capt. Ebenezer Sandborn for the 
purpose of setting up town warnings and all other public no- 
tifications." 

In the warning to the town meeting in 1787, one of the 
articles was, " to see if the town will choose a man to see 
and take care that the law concerning the salmon in Ammo- 
noosuc river is observed." Also voted " that the folks from 
Maxi Haseltine's to the great river and up the great river, 
shall be released from the taxes now due." At this period 
the Connecticut was often designated as the " great river." 

It appears from the records, that at this time and for sev- 
eral years subsequent, it was quite a common occurrence 
either to warn or to carry individuals, and sometimes whole 
families, out of town. This was done to prevent their gain- 



records, that at the annual town meethig in 1785, Mr. Bartlett was cho- 
sen Moderator and also one of the selectmen ; that in Sept. following, 
the town voted " that the selectmen prefer a petition to the General 
Court to enable them legally to tax the Proprietors and non-residents of 
the town," and appointed " Mr. Stephen Bartlett to carry forward said 
petition." It was while attending the General Court for this purpose, 
and not as representative, that his death occurred. In Dec. following, 
the town chose "Mr. Ezra Child selectman instead of Mr. Stephen Bart- 
lett lately deceased." Mr. Ezra Goodwin says that he died at Newton, 
at the house of his brother Eliphalet. He was then a lad of fourteen, 
and recollects well the particulars respecting the death and burial of 
Mr. B. Consequently the tradition that he fell down dead before the 
Court House, seems also to be unfounded. 



53 



ing a legal settlement and thus becoming town paupers. Re- 
lating to this subject, we find the following amusing record : 

'■^To Mr. John Foreman, ) 
Constable of Bath. ) 

You are hereby ordered and directed to take the 

body of Polly Bailey, if she is to be found in the town of 

Bath, and carry her out of town to Haverhill, her last place 

of abode, and deliver her to one of the selectmen : and to 

carry her out immediately. Hereof fail not, &c. 

Aaron Powers, ) o i i. >> 
A „ -o r Selectmen. 

Amasa Buck, j 

Bath, Dec. 8, 1787. 

" In obedience to the above warrant, I have taken the 
body of the within named Polly Bailey, and have rid her 
out of town, and have left her with Col. Hayward who is 
one of the selectmen of Haverhill. Fees £0-3s.-6d. Ex- 
tra cost £0— 12s. 

John Foreman, Constable."* 
Bath, Dec. 12, 1787. 

In March, 1788, the town voted " to unite with Landaff 
and Lincoln in sending a petition to the General Court for the 
privilege of sending a representative from these three towns." 
This petition was not granted. But a similar one, presented 
in 1792, appears to have been successful. For it is record- 
ed that in March, 1793, " the inhabitants of Bath, Landaff 
and Lincoln, met at the house of Capt. Jeremiah Hutchins, 
Innholder," and chose " Amasa Buck, Moderator," and 
"Capt. Jeremiah Hutchins, representative." These three 
towns continued to form one representative District till the 

* Mr. Foreman lived on the farm now owned by Moses Abbott, and 
was the first that occupied it. 

5 



54 



year 1800, when Bath alone sent a representative; and 
chose Capt. Jeremiah Hutchins. 

. Under date of Nov. 1789, vre find the following : '* Yoted 
that Doctor Isaac Moore set up a house of Inoculation in 
this town, one half mile west of Mr. David Weeks." 
Mrs. Smith states that this moTiement on the part of Doctor 
Moore met with great opposition ; and that the first house he 
erected was torn down by the disaffected, before it was fin- 
ished. He succeeded, however, the next year in completing 
one; and a good many persons (she among the rest,) went 
there and had the small pox. But in a short time it came 
to a sudden end — in 1793, it took fire and was burnt to 
ashes. 

PLACE OF MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

The first notice in the town records on this subject is un- 
der date of Oct. 1785, when it was voted " that the most 
convenient place to assemble on the Sabbath for divine wor- 
ship to be on the plain, about twenty or thirty rods from the 
crotch of the roads leading to Capt. Ebenezer Sandborn's (now 
Mr. Minot's,) and Mr. Stephen Smith's towards Mr. 
Smith's." This was near the spot now occupied by the 
grave-yard, and where, a few years after, a town-house was 
built. In 1788, the town voted " that Capt. E. Sandborn's 
be the place for public worship, the west side of Ammonoo- 
suc river, and Mr. John Bedel's be the place for public wor- 
ship on the east side of Ammonoosuc river." The next 
year it was voted, " that the place for meeting for public 
worship be at Col. Ebenezer Sandborn's until another place 
be provided." 

It was not long before efforts were made to provide anoth- 
er place, by erecting a town house that could be used for 



55 



public worship till a meeting house should be built. In 
March, 1791, it was '^voted to build a house for the use of the 
town, near the corner of the road leading from Col. E. Sand- 
born's to Stephen Smith's and Obadiah Eastman's mill — 
the dimensions of the house to be as follows, viz. : 30 feet 
on the ground, 9 feet posts, the roof boarded and shingled, 
the walls to be boarded by feather-edging the boards, 5 win- 
dows to contain 90 squares — said house to be completed by 
the first of Oct. next; " " voted to raise one hundred and 
fifty bushels of wheat towards building the house aforesaid ; " 
also " voted that Capt. Jeremiah Hutchuis, Mr. Henry Han- 
cock and Mr. Ezra Child, be a committee for building the 
aforementioned house." In Oct. 1792, it was " voted to 
have a tier of wall-pews in the town house, and to sell the 
pew ground at public auction, for the purpose of finishing 
said town house." This was the "shanty-like building" 
referred to in the address. It had but a brief existence ; 
for during the autumn of 179-3, a fire having broke out in 
the woods, spread with such rapidity, that before it was sub- 
dued, it had consumed this house, and also the Pest house 
of Doctor Moore. 

In June, 1798, the town voted to build a meeting house, 
(54 feet by 42) ; to raise one hundred and fifty pounds for 
defraying the expense ; to set it (where the old house now 
stands) on land given by John Hurd, Esq., for this pur- 
pose ; and appointed Eoger Sargent, Ezra Child, and 
Araasa Buck, the building committee. It would seem from 
the records, that before much progress had been made in 
getting the materials, various obstacles arose ; and during 
the next four years, numerous town meetings were held, and 
some conflicting votes were passed. Many of the inhal i- 
tants were opposed to levying a tax ; some disliked the loca- 
tion ; while others wished to have two houses built, one in the 



56 



east, the other in the west, part of the town. At length in 
the early part of 1802, all that had hitherto been done was 
"disannulled"; the committee were discharged; and 96 
dollars raised to indemnify them for their time and expendi- 
ture in procuring materials. 

Undisheartened by the past, another effort to secure a 
place for public worship was speedily undertaken. In Dec. 
of this year, 1802, the town voted anew to build a meeting 
house (58 feet by 47,) on the spot where the old house 
now stands ; that the pews be sold to raise the necessary 
funds ; that Moses P. Payson, John Child, and Aaron Hib- 
bard be the building committee ; and that they *' have three 
years to build it — to put up the frame and finish the out- 
side the first year, to finish the lower part the second year, 
and to finish the gallery the third year." Under the direc- 
tion of the committee, Mr. Sargent built it for $3000, as 
stated in the address. This is the building now used as a 
town house ; the steeple and pulpit having recently been ta- 
ken down and the body pews removed. 

In 1833, another congregational meeting house (60 fect 
by 46) was built by individuals, at Bath village, at a cost 
of about $5000. This house has been pronounced by good 
judges as one of ur.common symmetry, and has a fine toned 
bell, weighing twelve hundred pounds. The Universalist 
meeting house was built in 1836, and cost near seventeen 
hundred dollars. The Union meeting house at Swift Water, 
was built in 1840, at an expense of about eleven hundred 
dollars. 



57 



CHURCHES AND MINISTERS. 

Many of the early settlers of this town, especially those 
who removed here at the close of the Revolutionary war, 
came from the south part of this State and from Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut. Their sentiments and feelini>;s on 
religious subjects, and the importance of gospel institutions, 
were of the Puritan stamp. This was manifested by their 
early efforts to establish the ordinances of religion and secure 
a permanent ministry. 

The first church formed in Bath was in 1778, by Rev. 
Ebenezer Cleveland. It was established according to the 
Presbyterian platform, though contrary to the wishes of 
some of its members, who preferred the Congregational 
order. As others from Massachusetts and Connecticut 
came in, this dissatisfaction increased ; and in 1791, the 
Presbyterian church was dissolved, and a Congregational 
church organized in its stead, consisting of nineteen mem- 
bers. 

Less than three weeks after the town was organized, at a 
meeting held Aug. 11, 1784, the town voted, " that four 
bushels of wheat be allowed Rev. Ebenezer Cleveland per 
day for his past services ; " also voted to give him " three 
dollars or three bushels of wheat per day for the future." 
In Oct. following, the town gave him a call to settle with 
them in the work of the ministry, offering him a salary of 
220 bushels of wheat per year. A few months after, they 
voted "to give him forty pounds as a further encouragement to 
his settlement ;" also " forty pounds for building him a dwell- 
ing house, to be paid in labor and building materials." This 
call he declined. 

In 1790, another effort was made to settle a minister. 

5* 



V 



58 



Rev. Enos Bliss having preached several months as a candi- 
date, the town voted him a call, and " to give him one hun- 
dred acres of land," " the clearing, sowing and harvesting, 
of ten acres yearly for ten years to come," and '* after that 
to furnish him with an hired man so long as he continues 
as minister for the town." At an adjourned meeting, it 
was voted "to give him fifty pounds for the first year, then 
to advance five pounds yearly till it amounts to seventy 
pounds, to be paid in produce at the rate of five shillings per 
bushel for wheat ; ' ' also ' ' to procure one right of land to 
be made secure to him and his heirs." Notwithstanding the 
liberal provision thus made for his support, he gave to this 
call a negative answer. 

In the latter part of this year, Rev. Nicholas Dudley 
preached as a candidate nearly three months, but without re- 
ceiving a call to settle. The next year, 1791, a call was ex- 
tended to Rev. Pelatiah Chapin, which he declined. Some 
efforts were made to settle Rev. Mr. Fish, in 1793, and Rev. 
Experience Esterbrooks, in 1795 ; but they were unsuccess- 
ful. Mr. Esterbrooks. however, preached some years as a 
stated supply, and finally died here. 

Of those who preached in Bath during the next eight 
years, little or nothing is known, except that in 1798 and '9, 
Rev. David Goodall preached several months ; and in 1800, 
Rev. Stephen Williams was engaged for " three months on 
probation" — "one third of the preaching to be at Mr. 
John Dodge's, one third at Mr. Ezra Child's, and one third 
at Mr. Stephen Couch's " — that is in the west, centre, and 
east parts of the town. At the close of his engagement, 
the town voted " not to settle Rev. Mr. Williams." 

These efforts to secure a permanent ministry, so long un- 
availing, were at length crowned with success. On the 10th 
of April, 1805, a call was extended to Rev. D. Sutherland, 
to which he returned the following answer. 



59 



"To THE Inhabitants of Bath: 

A part of the committee, appointed at your last town 
meeting, waited on me to coramunieate your wish of my set- 
tling among you as a minister of the gospel. For this ex- 
pression of your kind approbation, be pleased to accept of 
my most grateful acknowledgements. 

I have considered your invitation attentively. I have al- 
so considered the situation I have occupied since my arrival 
in this country ; and from every view I can take of both, it 
seems clearly to be my duty to comply with your request ; 
my own unfitness, indeed, to discharge the duties of the im- 
portant station to which you invite me, is the principal if 
not the only obstacle in the way. When I take even a su- 
perficial view of the various functions of the ministerial of- 
fice, I am always ready to say with Paul, " Who is sufiicient 
for these things?" My only encouragement is, that God 
hath said, " My grace is sufiicient for thee." As I am em- 
barked ah-eady in the cause of my exalted Lord, I hope he 
will give me grace to be faithful amongst you, as well as 
among any other people. Presuming, therefore, on your in- 
dulgence to my weaknesses, and trusting in divine aid, I 
have concluded to accept of your oflfer. 

I am, with much affection, 

Your Servant in the Lord, 

DAYID SUTHERLAND. 
Barnet, MayI, 1805. 



5> 



As stated in the address, he was installed in October ; 
and his pastoral relation to the church continued till 1843. 
His successor, Rev. Edward Cleveland, after preaching 
more than a year as a stated supply, was installed July 31, 



60 



1844. He filled the pastoral office till Oct. 16, 1849, when 
his dismission took place. "^ 

Mr. Cleveland was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. 
Thomas Boutelle. He received a call in Dec. 1849 ; this 
he negatived, but consented to preach for a time as a stated 
supply. A second invitation to settle, given in 1851, he 
also declined. To a third call he gave an affirmative answer, 
and was installed March 10, 1853. f 

It is stated in the address, that after the building of the 
meeting house at Bath Village, a division of the Church and 
Society took place. Those who remained at the old house, 
in 1835, settled Rev. Peter J. Nichols as their pastor. Ow- 
ing to ill health, he was dismissed in 1839, and died July 2, 
1842, at the age of forty-six. 

In April, 1839, Rev. Joseph Marsh was employed as a 
stated supply for one year. After leaving Bath, he labored 
for a time at Orford, and subsequently at Bethlehem and 
Franconia. 

In June, 1843, at a meeting of the members of both 
churches, it was voted to " unite and form one Congrega- 
tional church in Bath ; " the body thus formed, was recog- 
nized and constituted as a church by the council that in- 
stalled Rev. E. Cleveland, in July, 1844. 

A Methodist Church was established in this town, in 
1819 ; a class having been formed that year at Swift Water, 
Rev. Lewis Bates being at that time their preacher. For 

* Mr. Cleveland was born in Shipton, Canada East; graduated at 
Yale College in 1832; settled in Rochester, N. H., in 1837; after leaving 
Bath, settled in Cabot, Vt., Nov. 1849, where he remained till 1853 ; and 
is now preaching at Barnet, Vt. as a stated supply. 

t Mr. Boutelle is a native of Leominster, IVIass. ; graduated at Am- 
herst College in 1829, and at Andover Seminary in 1832; was settled in 
Plymouth, Mass., in May, 1834, and at Woodstock, Conn., in Dec. 
1837, where he remained till 1849. 



61 



more than twenty years they had no resident minister, but 
enjoyed preaching more or less of the time from those on this 
circuit. Rev. Gr. W. H. Clark was stationed here in 1844, 
and Rev. Henry Hill in 1845. During the next two years 
they had no regular supply ; but for three years following, 
Prof. King and others from Newbury, Yt., furnished them 
with preaching. Rev. Daniel Barbour was stationed here in 
1851 ; Rev. Thomas J. Andrews in 1852 and 3 ; and Rev. 
Oloff H. Call in 1854 and 5. 

A Universalist Society was organized in Bath, in 1830. 
Their first minister was Rev. Moses Ballou. He commenced 
his labors here in 1834, and continued about two years. He 
was succeeded, in 1836, by Rev. Merritt San ford, who re- 
mained till 1838. After Mr. S. left, Rev. Dennis Chapin 
was employed a part of a year. Their next minister was Rev. 
Hosford Tillotson, who came in 1839, and left in 1841. Mr. 
T.'s successor was Rev. Horace Morse, who was employed 
about one year. Rev. Alexander Hichborn succeeded Mr. 
M., and preached here between one and two years, in 1843 
and '44. Mr. H. was followed by Rev. Alexander R. Ab- 
bott. He commenced his labors here in 1845, and contin- 
ued near three years. Since he left, the Society have 
employed no one statedly, having had only occasional 
preaching. 

INCREASE OF REV. D. SUTHERLAND'S SALARY. 

In the town records containing an account of the doings at 
the Annual Meeting, in March, 1817, we find the following : 
" Voted to make an addition of two hundred dollars to Rev. 
David Sutherland's salary." The " fit of good nature," al- 
luded to in the address, and which induced the above vote, 



62 



was much indebted to a short but eloquent speech made in 
town meeting by James I. Swan, Esq. , just before the vote 
was taken. A legal gentleman, ^ who heard the speech, 
and on whom it made a vivid impression, having kindly fur- 
nished a report of it substantially as it was delivered, it is 
here inserted. 



SPEECH OF J. I. SWAN, ESQ. 

"Mr. Moderator, and Gentlemen: 

" I feel constrained by a sense of justice, to rise in sup- 
port of the motion now before the town. "We are not called 
upon to be liberal, or to be generous, but simply to be just. 
If we vote the increase of the salary of our pastor, which 
the motion contemplates, it will be but a provision for a par- 
tial equivalent for benefits received. I would that the sense 
of justice, and even the generous impulses of the town, were 
sufficiently awakened, to lead us to do our whole duty on this 
occasion. Let us reflect that this movement comes not from 
him, in whose favor it is made. Justice delayed for such a 
call, would be long delayed. Time would not be sufficient 
to accomplish' the object. No, Mr. Moderator, it is well 
known to every one within the reach of my voice, that he 
could never be induced to bestow one thought upon this sub- 
ject. His is not the worship of Mammon, but of the living 
God. He seeks not the riches of this world, but only the 
rich rewards of righteousness. He will take no thought for 
the morrow, " for the morrow shall take thought for the 
things of itself," as to him. But shall we be remiss in duty, 
for the reason that he is not clamorous in his demands of its 
performance ? I trust not. 

* Hon. A. S. Woods. 



63 



"Are there not around us, abundant evidences of the great 
value of the services of our reverend and revered pastor, 
among this 23eople ? Through whose efforts and prayers, has 
this large and respectable church been gathered and estab- 
lished in our midst ? How many of our people and neigh- 
bors are, at this moment, through his aid and instrumentali- 
ty, rejoicing in the blessings of free pardon, and in the hope 
of a blissful immortality ? The large and commodious build- 
ing in which we are now assembled, is filled on each succes- 
sive Sabbath with an attentive audience, attracted hither to 
listen to the word of God, as it shall be spoken in their pres- 
ence/ Did any one ever leave this house of worship on such 
an occasion, who did not feel himself, in some degree, im- 
proved in heart and purpose, by what he had seen and what 
he had heard ? I appeal to the experience of all present. 
Did any one present, ever leave this house on such an occa- 
sion, and go away, filled with other than sentiments of admi- 
ration and love. I must confess, that I have been more 
captivated by his manner, and charmed by his eloquence, 
than by that of any other public speaker to whom I have 
ever listened. But I do not consider that his greatest worth 
and richests gifts are those which he possesses, and which 
come to us through his public administrations. In his pri- 
vate walk, he is a perfect exemplar. His very air and man- 
ner mark strongly his whole character. He is ever cheer- 
ful, yet dignified ; and though his conversation is often 
amusing, it is, nevertheless, uniformly attended with a moral 
that both solemnizes and improves the heart. I believe that 
no man ever had an interview with our revered pastor, of 
however trifling moment, who did not feel his mind solem- 
nized and his heart improved. His whole manner and con- 
versation are redolent of his virtues and his graces. The 
good revere him, while the wicked and the profane are awed 



64 



into silence by his very presence. I never saw the man, 
whose presence was so agreeable and yet so awful. The vile 
and the good alike revere him. He knows no hatred, and 
he really has no enemies. 

" Mr. Moderator, I would ask, sir, by whose efforts, our 
common schools throughout the whole town, are cherished 
and fostered, and made productive of advantage to the pu- 
pils that attend them ? Who is it, that visits each and every 
one of them, at least four times each year, and by his advice 
and counsels leads on the young minds, not only in the path 
of science, but of virtue ? Is there a child in this town, of 
four years of age, who does not love and revere him as a 
father, and regard him as his benefactor ? I need not say to 
you, that those frequent visits of our schools, and the un- 
tiring efforts of our good minister, for the advancement of 
the interests of education in this town, and for the success of 
our schools, are made " without money and without price." 
That service certainly comes not within the ordinary range of 
pastoral duties, and is not usually performed as such. But 
although no compensation is asked, and I might say it is not 
thought of by our pastor, is it the less the part of duty and 
of decency, to acknowledge the kind service in some way, as 
a thing of which we have knowledge, and which we duly ap- 
preciate ? I say, then, let us not be ungrateful, if we are 
not inclined to be generous, or entirely and fully just. 

*' Mr. Moderator, I admire the far-sightedness, and the wise 
prudence, which led to the employment of this excellent and 
admirable man, to discharge the parochial duties of the town, 
and inculcate the Christian virtues among this people. Be- 
sides the religious influence which he exerts, and the great 
moral power which he exercises over this community, through 
the acknowledged purity of his character and the rectitude 
of his life, is it not of consequence to us, and ought it not to 



65 



be to us a source of pride and pleasure, that in the course of 
a mysterious providence, we have, and can boast of, a citizen 
and pastor", whose fame for benevolence and every Christian 
virtue, for exact learning, charming and fervid eloquence, 
and a faithful discharge of every Christian duty, is unsur- 
passed, I might well say unequaled, by that of any other 
person within the limits of this State. His very name is an 
honor to us ; while the brightness of his character sheds a 
halo of glory around us, and adds lustre and worth to our 
town. I would aim at no flattering eulogy of this good man. 
I could not, if I would, add brilliancy to his estimable char- 
acter. I would, and I intend speaking of him, but in terms 
of moderate justice. I would indulge in no fancy sketch, 
but only in realities. 

" I am addressing an auditory of persons who duly appre- 
ciate the Christian religion, and who value moral worth above 
all price. I need not say to you, that civilization is the 
handmaid of Christianity, and only keeps pace with it. The 
line of distinction between civilization and barbarism, is 
marked and limited by its spread and its limit, with the 
same unerring exactness, with which the magnetic needle ia 
attracted towards the pole. I need not say, that it is through 
its instrumentality and power alone, that peace and good will 
on earth, and happiness in full fruition in an untried world, 
are vouchsafed to man. As we estimate, then, the worth of 
religion and religious privilege ; as we value the spread of 
its influences among us ; as we regard the importance of re- 
ligious example and of moral worth among us ; as we value 
the prevalence of honor, of virtue, and of truth, and the 
power of eloquence when directed to proper objects ; as we 
estimate the rich fruits of a well directed moral, religious, 
and literary education of the youth of our town ; let us act 
upon the question before us, with a full sense and appreci- 
6 



66 



ation of our best interests and of our duty, and when called 
upon to vote, let the ' ayes ' be heard to come to the rescue, 
with a loud and unvaried acclaim." 

After listening to the fervid eloquence of Mr. Swan, and 
having thus forcibly presented before them the indebtedness 
of a community to the gospel ministry, and the special obli- 
gations of this town to their worthy and esteemed minister, 
it is not surprising that the citizens of Bath instantly voted 
the large addition to his salary already mentioned ; nor that 
the following vote was also passed and recorded in immedi- 
ate connection with it — " Yoted, that Rev. David Suther- 
land's property be exempt from taxation for the future." 
Such spontaneous exhibitions of a people's good will to their 
pastor, and of then- high appreciation of the gospel ministry, 
hel]3 to form the "sunny side " of ministerial life, and are 
alike honorable to minister and people. It seems proper, in- 
deed justice and impartiality require, that another extract from 
the town records relating to this same subject, should be here 
inserted. It is found recorded just ten years after the forego- 
ing, and needs no eulogy or comment, for it speaks for itself. 

*' To THE Moderator of the Town Meeting : 

Permit me, my dear sir, to express through you to the 
inhabitants of this town, the profound sense of gratitude I 
entertain for the uninterrupted favors and kindness they have 
bestowed on me upwards of twenty years past. And as a 
small expression of that gratitude, I hereby relinquish for- 
ever, one-sixth of the amount of salary, which several years 
ago, without any solicitude of mine, they so liberally voted 
me. I am not induced to this measure by the request or 
suggestion of any individual ; but by the apprehension that 
as produce has fallen in value, many may feel it an incon- 



67 



venience to pay their proportion of that very generous sup- 
port which of late years has been given me. That the 
blessing of the God of Heaven, whom I profess to serve in 
the gospel of His Son, may rest on every family and every 
individual in this place, is the earnest prayer of 

Your devoted servant, 

David Sutherland. 
Bath, March 13, 1829." 



REVIVALS. 

There have been in this town, at different periods, several 
seasons of unusual attention to the subject of religion — some 
of them of great interest and power. One of these was in 
1811, succeeding the prevalence of the spotted fever in the 
place. During this revival, many found joy and peace in 
believing, and about thirty publicly professed Christ before 
the world. Another similar season of religious interest was 
enjo3^ed in 1818, which resulted in the addition of twenty- 
four to the church. 

A still more remarkable work of grace occurred in the lat- 
ter part of 1820, and the fore part of the year following. On 
the second Sabbath of September, 1820, the late William 
Morrison, Esq., Mr. Jacob Hurd, and Mr. Ebenczer Ricker, 
became deeply affected in view of their lost and ruined state 
as sinners ; and during the subsequent week their wives and 
several others were awakened. The good work increased 
rapidly, and soon became general throughout the town. 
Among all classes, the salvation of the soul was, for several 
months, the all engrossing subject. As results of this great 
and glorious revival, more than a hundred united with the 



68 



Congregational Church, and a considerable number with the 
Methodist Church. 

In 1827 and 1828, another gracious season was enjoyed, 
which added thirty to the church ; and still another in 1831, 
when thirty-eight joined the church. 

The last extensive revival in this town, was in the winter 
and spring of 1851. Between fifty and sixty were num- 
bered among the hopeful subjects of the work. The first 
Sabbath in May, forty-four individuals — husbands and 
wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters — came out 
into the aisles of the sanctuary, and there stood up together, 
and publicly covenanted with one another, with the church, 
and with the great Head of the Church, that henceforth they 
would live as becoraeth the disciples of Christ ; while more 
than half of the number received the ordinance of baptism. 
That scene will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. 

In addition to the above, there have been several seasons 
of unusual religious interest in different sections of the town, 
in wliich more or less individuals have become the subjects of 
a Christian hope, and united with the followers of Christ. 



DEACONS. 

The following individuals have held the ofiice of deacon in 
the Congregational Church : 

Amasa Buck, Philemon Iluo;o;les, 

Timothy Hibbard, Alvan Hastings, 

Samuel Lang, John M. Child, 

Dudley Child, Stephen N. Bartlett, 

Nathan Dewey, Michael Bartlett. 



69 



SCHOOLS. 



There had been private schools prior to 1786, hut the first 
appropriation made by the town for this object, was in that 
year, when it was voted - to raise 60 bushels of wheat for 
the support of a school." The next year, " 100 bushels of 
wheat at six shillings per bushel," were voted for the same 
object ; and about this amount was raised for several succeed- 
ing years. 

This town is so intersected with rivers, and diversified with 
hdls and mountains, that it has always%een found exceed- 
ingly difficult to divide it into districts so as to accommodate 
and satisfy all. The early settlers encountered this difficulty 
in its full strength. Previous to 1787, there appears to have 
been but one district. That year the town was divided into 
four districts — i\^ first embraced all the central part of the 
town, extending north to Lyman line; the second included 
Ammonoosuc valley on both sides of the river ; the third, all 
the easterly portion of the town ; and \k^ fourth, all west of 
Gardner's mountain. 

Jn 1790, these several districts were " empowered to build 
a school house, and tax themselves to pay for the same." In 
attempting to carry this measure into execution, formidable 
difficulties arose about the location of the school houses, and 
other matters connected therewith, which threw the whole 
town into a ferment that lasted several years, and occasioned 
various conflicting votes. In March 1792, it was voted •' not 
to divide the town into two districts," and " not to raise any 
money for schooling." In August of the same year, a vote 
was passed '' to have but one district in the town ; " a week 
or two after, " that four school houses be built," and t]iat 
one hundred pounds be raised by the town for buildincr tliem 
6* 



70 



But in September, the town voted " to disannul all former 
votes respecting school houses ; " they then voted " to build 
three school houses," and that " no schools be kept till said 
houses are built." This did not settle their troubles ; for in 
1793, a vote was passed " not to raise any money for finish- 
ing the three school houses that are built;" and the next 
year it was voted, " not to build any more school houses," 
and " not to finish the three now built." At length, in 1795, 
the matter seems to have been adjusted by a vote " to have 
five new districts," making eight in all. 

That some of the old leaven, however, still remained, is 
indicated by a vote passed in 1798, appointing Mr. Ezra 
Child " to prosecute ^e persons that pulled down the school 
house." The next year, 1799, the limits of the eight dis- 
tricts were distinctly defined and recorded, and S600 raised 
for building school houses. As the population increased, 
new districts were formed from time to time, till the whole 
number in town was thirteen ; but recently they have been 
reduced to twelve. A Committee for visiting schools was 
first appointed by the town in 1811, consisting of Rev. D. 
Sutherland, M. P. Payson, Esq., and Mr. David Smith. 
The same individuals were elected to this office for several 
succeeding years. 

The Academy in Bath was built in 1848, at an expense of 

about S1700. The following gentlemen are its 

« 

' Board of Trustees. 

Ira Goodall, Esq. Hon. Andrew S. Woods, 

Isaac Patterson, Esq. Chester C. Hutchins, Esq. 

Hon. James H. Johnson, Rev. E. Irvin Carpenter, 

Arthur Livermore, Esq. Samuel P. Peavey, Esq. 

Rev. Thomas Boutelle. 



71 



ROADS AND BRIDGES. 



The Proprietors under the old Charter voted, in 1768, 
- to lay out a road through Bath from Haverhill road." 
This road came down by the Wiser Hill, crossed the Am- 
monoosuc ahove the Harris place, passed up near Perch pond, 
down by Messrs. Minots, and by the centre graveyard out to 
the Weeks' neighborhood, thence by the Proprietors' Mills, 
and onward to Lyman line -thus running through the town 
diagonally from southwest to northeast. Roads, branching 
out'' from this, were soon made to Bath village, and to the 
different parts of the town as the wants of the settlers re- 

"^Tt a Proprietors' meeting in M^, 1772, it was " voted 
that Asa Porter, Esq. provide a good canoe at the Proprie- 
tors' expense, and deliver it to Capt. Samuel Titus to be 
used for transporting people over Ammonoosuc river near his 
dwelling house in this town." (Capt. Titus lived on the 
north side of the river, on what is now known as the Harris 
farm.) This canoe was procured the same year, for which 
IVIr Porter presented a bill of one pound and ten shiUings. 
Mrs. Smith says, that many a time when young she crossed 
the Ammonoosuc in this canoe, at the same time holdmg a 
horse's head to swim the river ; and that she often crossed 
the Connecticut river in the same way. 

The amount expended in this town for roads and bridges, 
has always been large. In 1784, the first year of its organ- 
ization, forty pounds were appropriated for this purpose ; the 
next year, seventy pounds ; the year following, one hundred 
pounds : and for- the next ten years, it varied from fifty to one 
Udred pounds annually. In 1798, $333 were raised for 
this object, and near the same sum yearly till 1802, when it 



72 



was increased to $600, and ia 1808, to $700. In 1809 
the town yot^d ■< to raise $1000, to be laid ont in repairing 
roads and bridges ; $200 for building a road and bridge nJv 
An.h-ow T\^oods' mill; and $100 for repairing the road over 
Gardner s Mountain " -making $1300 for that year. All 
this was in addition to the several sums expended from time 
to toe m building bridges over the Ammonoosac rivers. 

J he firsi bndge built over either of these rivers was in 
UJd. At the annual meeting in March of this year, the 
town voted not to act upon an article inserted in the warnin<. 
to see If they would build a bridge over the Wild Ammonoo! 
sue. In the course of the year, several individuals on their 
own responsibility constructed one of hewed string-pieces 
laid lengthwise acro.ss th» river, near its mouth. For this 
they presented a bill of nine pounds, which, after bein<. re- 
jected for several years, was finally allowed and paid by° the 
town. In 1798, a new and more substantial bridge was 
built m Its stead. Since then several others have been built 
at or near the .same place; the present one, in 1846 at an 
expense of near $1200. 

One year after the rude structure of string-pieces had been 
thrown acros,s the Wild Ammonoosnc, a good bridge was 
bni tat Bath tillage. In Nov. 1793, the town voted " to 
build a bridge across Ammonoosuc river over the mill-pond 
above Mr. Sargent's and Esq. Kurd's mills;" " to rai^e 
eighty pounds for defraying the expense ; " "that the price 
of wheat paid for labor shall be four shillings per bushel, and 
If any work shall be turned in, the price of a day's work 
shall be three shillings, persons finding themselves in pro- 
visions and tools." AmasaBuck, Jeremiah Hutchins and 
IJaniel Bailey were appointed a Committee for building the 
bridge. It was commenced in the forepart of 1794° and 
(luring the season completed. In November of that year 



n 



thirty pounds more were raised by the town, to finish it — 
making the whole expense $366 66. This bridge having 
been demolished by the ice, the town voted, in 1806, " to 
build a new bridge over Ammonoosuc river near Mr. Sar- 
gent's mills, at or near where the old one now stands ; to 
raise $1000 for the same ; and that the selectmen be a com- 
mittee to superintend its erection." In 1820, a third bridge 
was built at the same place. This having been carried off 
by a flood in February, 1824, it was soon replaced by a new 
one. The present bridge at this place was built in 1832, at 
an expense of about $3,500, and is nearly 400 feet in length. 
The White Mountain Railroad passes under the west end of 
this bridge. 

Several bridges have also been built across the Wild Am- 
monoosuc at Swift Water, The first was about 1810 ; after 
having stood some eight years, it was swept away by a flood, 
and another built in its stead. This was also carried off in 
1828, and a third one was built the next year. In 1849, 
this was taken down and replaced by the present one, at a 
cost of near $1000. 

Haverhill and Bath united in building the bridge across 
the Ammonoosuc at Woodsville, in 1829. This is a firm 
and substantial structure, built in accordance with Towne's 
patent, and cost about $2,400, one-half of which was paid 
by this town. All the bridges now in Bath cost the town 
not far from $8,000 ; this includes the abutments, which 
were not taken into account in some of the above statements. 

The road by the Narrows, referred to in the address as one 
of much public benefit, was built in 1828 ; and that from 
Swift Water, on the south side of the Wild Ammonoosuc, 
was made in 1839. ■ All the roads in Bath are said to be 84 
miles in length. The amount appropriated annually by the 
town for keeping in repair its numerous roads and bridges, 



74 



has been for several years past, from twelve to fourteen hun- 
dred dollars. 

The White Mountain Railroad through this town was 
graded in 1852, the rails were laid in 1853, and on the 
fourth of July of that year the cars commenced running as 
far as Lisbon, and early in August to its present termination 
at Littleton. 



MILLS. 

The first mill built in Bath was in 1772, on Mill Brook, 
near Bedel's meadow, northeast of where M. L. Sandborn 
now resides. As early as 1768, the Proprietors souglit to 
have a saw and grist mill built in the town, and made liberal 
offers to any one that would undertake the work. Similar 
offers were made the next year. In 1770, Edward Blair 
entered into a contract with the Proprietors to build a mill 
both for sawing and grinding, they agreeing to give him 
*' forty-five pounds in money, three-fourths of a mile square 
of land to be laid out in a square body near the mill spot, 
and also to clear the road and haul the millstones." He 
commenced the work, but appears to have soon failed ; for 
in January, 1771, it was voted " to give the creditors of 
Edward Blair" the same amount of money and land, pro- 
vided they would complete the mills in a given time. 

After some delay, the Proprietors voted in 1772, " to give 
Timothy Bedel, Esq. and Asa Porter, Esq. ninety pounds, 
and all the common lands lying in or belonging to the town- 
ship of Bath, on condition that said Bedel and Porter will 
set up or complete a saw and grist mill by the first day of 
January next." They immediately entered upon the work, 



75 



and had the mills completed at the close of that year.^ Af- 
ter several years, these mills came into the possession of 
Obadiah Eastman, and were known as Eastman's Mills, and 
at a still later period as Miles' Mills. Other mills of a bet- 
ter class having been put in operation in the town, these were 
ultimately abandoned. 

The fine water privilege at Bath Village was first oc- 
cupied by Mr. Daniel Mills, who, in 1784 or 1785, built a 
grist mill on the east side of the river. Of this man, very 
little is known. The following anecdote, related of him, in- 
dicates that he possessed a contented disposition. "Soon 
after his fii'st mill was built, it was carried away by a flood ; 
whereupon he remarked he was glad of it, for it wasn't set in 
the right place. He therefore built a second one in the right 
place ; this having been burnt down a short time after, he 
again said he was glad of it, for it wasn't built as it ought to 
have been. He then built a third one, which exactly suited 
him." 

* The following bill relating to this subject, inclicates the difficulty 
and expense of transporting heavy articles at this early period : 

THE PROPRIETOES OF BATH TO ASA PORTER, DR. 

1772. To men, oxen and supplies when hauling mill stones, viz : 
5 days work fixing to haul the stones, at 4s. 
Paid people to help load, 
41 days work at hauling the stones, at 4s. 
10$ quarts of Rum, at 6s. per gallon, 
10 dinners for people, at 8d 
12 pounds of pork for do., at 8d. 
Provisions and bread for do. 
Keeping 7 yoke of oxen one night, 
Paid for 2 carts, 6s. each, 
One sled broken and worn out hauling do. 
Paid for returning carts to owners. 
Paid for mending chains broke in said service, 

£13 9 6 



£1 





6 





M 4 





15 


9 


6 


8 


8 





10 





7 





12 





11 





6 





3 






76 



About 1790, Mr. Mills sold out to Roger Sargent, who 
built a saw mill on the same side of the river. Near the 
same time, (before 1793,) Jacob Hurd, Esq., in connection 
with his father, built both a saw and a grist mill on the west 
side of the Ammonoosuc. At that time there was no bridge 
over the river, and people had to cross in a boat ; of course 
there was more occasion for a saw and grist mill on both sides 
than at present. In the early part of the present century, 
the grinding was done at Mr. Kurd's mill on the west side, 
and the sawing on the east side — the reverse of what is 
practised now. 

After several years, Richard Gookin* bought out both 

* Mr. Gookin, though not a resident of Bath, contributed largely to 
its prosperity during his lifetime. His son, Warren D. Gookin, Esq., of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., has furnished me with a few facts of much interest, re- 
lating to his father. 

Eichard Gookin was born at Boston, in 1769. In connection with his 
brother, he made the first watch springs manufactured in America. 
Having lost his brother and other relatives by the small pox, which rav- 
aged Boston about 1790, he took charge of a Nail Factory established 
by English capitalists, (Guppy & Armstrong,) at Newbury, Bj'efield, 
Mass. While there, he became acquainted with Benjamin Standring, 
who had recently brought from England certain parts of a wool carding 
machine, contrary to the laws of that country, which prohibited the ex- 
poi'tation of machinery. To this machine Mr. G. made certain improve- 
ments, for A^ich he received- two Patents under Jefferson's Administra- 
tion, and forming a connection with Mr. Standring, they made in Bos- 
ton the first carding machines ever used in the United States, wool hav- 
ing previously been carded by hand. As the country seemed likely to 
use these machines, they moved to Haverhill, N. H., in 1799, and there 
established a manufactory, which supplied machines to sixteen States 
of our Union, and also to Canada. 

Mr. G. was a large owner of mills, being extensively connected with 
woolen factories in all parts of New England. He was also a man of 
uncommon energy and enterprise, as was shown by his rebuilding in 
mid-winter, the mill-dams at Bath Viliage, which had been swept away 
by the great freshet of Feb. 12, 1824, thereby stopping all the mills. He 
died at Haverhill, where he had long resided, May 20, 1826. 



77 



Sargent and Hurd, and became the owner of the whole priv- 
ilege on both sides of the river. He erected the present 
grist mill, which was then superior to any other in this sec- 
tion, and after running it near 20 years, disposed of it, and 
it came into the possession of S. Ross, Esq., and Hon. J. H. 
Johnson, its present owners."^ In 1833, a saw mill was 
built on the west side of the river, by Mr. Ross. He sold 
it, in 1839, to Mr. Johnson, its present owner ; it is now in 
fine order, having been rebuilt the past year. 

Several other mills have been established, at different 
periods, at Bath Village. About 1792, a Clothing mill was 
built by Knowles Clark. In 1796, it was hired for a year 
or two by Henry Hancock. In 1805, and for several years 
succeeding, it was in the possession of Ingalls & Fry. At 
leno;th it came into the hands of Richard Grookin : and in 
1822, it gave place to the present Woolen Factory. 

About 1800, Stephen Couch established a Forge, and 
continued it in operation several years. In 1804, H. Han- 
cock was connected with its management. As the business, 
however, was found to be unprofitable, it was suffbred to run 
down. 

Near the same time, Moses and Roger Sargent, Jr., 
erected a Nail Factory just above where the grist mill now 
stands ; but after a few years it was abandoned. 

In 1811, a Trip Hammer was established near the same 
spot, by Abraham Thomas and Daniel Bartlett ; it contin- 
ued in use twenty years. 

About the same time, a Whetstone Factory was put in 
operation by Capt. Stephen Whiting & Co.; but after a few 
years it was given up. 

* Since this was written, Mr. Eoss has sold his interest in it to Ida 
Hodge and Dudley C. Lang. It is now being rebuilt, with such im- 
provements as will make it a mill of the very first class. 

7 



78 



The Woolen Factory was built in 1822, by Richard Goo- 
kin and Caleb Hunt, at a cost of near $10,000. On the 
night of Feb, 11, 1851, "^ it took fire and was consumed 
with all its contents, nothinoj being- left but its naked walls. 
It has since been rebuilt by I. Goodall, Esq., its present 
owner. 

At Swift Water, a saw mill was built as early as 1793, by 
Dea. Timothy Hibbard and some of his neighbors, who uni- 
ted with him in the enterprise. This having gone to decay, 
a second one was built about 1816, by Jonathan Barnes & 
Co. This was burnt down, and in 1826 a third one was 
erected by Edmund Carleton ; after being in operation sev- 
eral years, this was permitted to run down. 

About 1826, a Clothing Mill was built at Swift Water, by 
Alvah Eastman; this, in 1839, was swept away by a flood. 
Another was built by Myron S. Woodard, which in 1842 
took fire, and was burnt to ashes. This was replaced by a 
third one, in 1843. 

There was no grist mill at Swift Water, till 1834, when 
the present mills, which are of a superior class, were built by 
Goodall & Hunt, at an expense of near $5,000. A Starch 
Factory was built herein 1846, by Moody Chamberlain; 
and a shop for the manufacture of Bedsteads by machinery in 
1849, by Benjamin Haywood. 

About the year 1810, Jonathan Culver constructed a saw 
mill on the Wild Ammonoosuc, some three-fourths of a mile 
from its mouth. This was afterwards owned or occupied for 
a time by Hamlin Band ; in March, 1839, it was carried off 
by a flood. The next year a new one was erected on the 
same spot, by J. M. Jackman & Co.; this they rebuilt and 

* The great fire at Bath Village occurred Feb. 11, 1824, just twenty- 
even years before ! 



79 



improved, in 1851. In connection with this, the same com- 
pany built a Starch Factory, in 1847. 

In 1844, D. K. Jackman erected a Starch Factory on 
Child's Brook near Jonathan Child's ; after a few years it 
came into the possession of Samuel M. Bartlett, its present 
owner. 

Several other Mills have been built at different times in 
various parts of the town, which are no longer in existence. 
About 1806, Roger Sargent built a dam across the Am- 
monoosuc half a mile above the Upper Village, and erected 
a saw mill on the east side of the river. After a few years, 
this was purchased by S. & J. Hutchins, who also built a grist 
mill and a clothing mill some twenty rods further east, bring- 
ing the water to supply them in a canal. For several years 
a large amount of business was done at these mills ; but after 
being in operation near thirty years, they were permitted to 
run down. Early in this century, Stephen Smith erected a 
grist mill on Hurd's Brook, upon the west side of Gardner's 
Mountain, which continued in operation some twelve or fif- 
teen years. About the same time, Andrew Woods built a 
saw mill on Mill Brook, near the school house in the Weeks' 
district, and run it some twenty years. About 1810, Timo- 
thy Barnes erected one on Payson's Brook, a third of a mile 
above the river road ; but it soon run down. Near the same 
time, Chester Beckley built one on King's Brook, a little 
west of the Swift Water graveyard ; this was in operation 
some fifteen years. 

In 1814, Ezra Child built a saw mill on Child's Brook, 
about eighty rods from its mouth. This having been aban- 
doned in a few years, Everett Kimball erected another on 
the same stream, near the north line of S. Minot's farm. 
After this had run down, a third one was built, in 1826, on 
the same brook a little higher up, by John and Dudley 



80 



Child ; this soon came into the possession of Stephen N. 
Bartlett, who run it a good many years. About 1825, 
Frank Trask erected a saw mill on the Wild Ammonoosuc, 
near a mile and a half above Swift Water ; after being in 
operation several years, it was swept away by a flood. 

Some thirty years ago, a Clapboard Mill was built by 
William and James Eastman, on Mill Brook, not far from its 
mouth ; this too was carried off by a flood. 

In 1847, Baxter Deming and William Waddell erected a 
Starch Factory on the west side of Gardner's Mountain ; but 
after two or three years it was abandoned. 

About 1806, Boger Sargent constructed a Distillery, 
near where Abraham Thomas' house now stands, and em- 
ployed it for a year or two in making rye whiskey ; Amos 
Towne then occupied it a few years in making potato whis- 
key. In 1810, Moses Abbott also built a Distillery, and 
engaged for three years in the manufacture of potato whiskey 
— this he now very deeply regrets. 

PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PRACTISED IN BATH. 

DocT. Isaac Moore came to Bath from Haverhill in 
1790. He married a daughter of Col. Timothy Bedel,* 

* Mrs. Moore was born in this town, in 1771, and is supposed to be 
the oldest person born in Bath now living. Her father's house stood 
on a knoll near the river, and there being a freshet at the time of her 
birth, the house was surrounded by water on all sides; she used to be 
told; theiefore, playfully that she was born in the middle of the Ammo- 
noosuc. She was married to Doct. Moore at the age of 18, and the next 
year removed to this town, where she resided nearly 30 years. Some 
years after the death of her first husband, she maiTied a Mr. Rich, of 
Maidston, Vt. As his widow, she is non' living at Barnet, Vt. ; and for 
a lady of 8-t years, she enjoys remarkable health, retains her intellectual 
faculties, and is able to perform daily labor. 



81 



and resided for several years on the Hurd place, near tlie 
old meeting house. Ho then removed to where S. and W. 
Minot now live, and there kept a public house for several 
years. At a subsequent period, he lived near Mr. Andrew 
Woods'. 

DocT. Edward Dean moved to Bath in 1806, from 
Hardwick, Mass. After enjoying a large share of practice, 
he died Nov. 29, 1822, at the age of forty-four years. 

DocT. Joseph Dean, after pursuing his professional 
studies with his brother Edward, commenced practice in this 
town, in 1821. His life came to a sudden and melancholy 
end' on the 4th of July, 1832. While on a pleasure excur- 
sion in company with many others that day, when a little 
above Haverhill Corners, he fell from the steamboat, Capt. 
Duncan, into the Connecticut river, and being struck as was 
supposed by one of the paddle wheels, he sunk to rise no 
more ! His age was forty-two years. 

DocT. John French, a native of South Hampton, N. 
H., after practising in his profession at LandafF fourteen 
years, moved into Bath in April, 1822 ; where he has had an 
extensive and successful practice up to the present time. 
While in Landaff, he was a member of the State Legisla- 
ture four years, and of the Council three years ; he has also 
represented this town in the Legislature. 

DocT. MosES F. Morrison came to this^wn from Wa- 
terford, Yt., and commenced practice in July, 1832. After 
a residence of twenty years he removed from here, in 1852, 
to Nunda, in Western New York. 

DocT. Simeon D. Colburn was born March 23, 1803, 
in Claremont, N. H. After pursuing a regular course of 
study at the Medical Institution at Hanover, he commenced 
practice here in August, 1832. His death occurred in 
March, 1853, at the age of fifty years. Before his health 
7* 



82 



became impaired, he had a pretty widely extended practice, 
and enjoyed a fair reputation in his profession. 

DocT. Jonathan Smith Ross, son of Samuel Ross, 
Esq., of this town, was born April 6, 1822. After gradu- 
ating at Dartmouth College, in 1843, and at the Medical 
University, Penn., in 1846, he entered upon his professional 
duties here in Nov. of that year. Having sustained for six 
years a good and growing reputation in his profession, he re- 
moved, in 1852, to Salmon Falls, in this State, where he is 
now engaged in medical practice. 

DocT. David B. French was born in Bedford, N. H., 
Jan. 27, 1830. Having graduated at Dartmouth College, in 
1851, and at the Medical Institution connected therewith in 
1854, he came to this town and commenced practice in May 
of the same year. Though he has been here but a short 
time, he gives promise of being a successful practitioner. 



LAWYERS WHO HAVE PRACTISED IN BATH. 

Bath has been celebrated for the number of those connect- 
ed with the legal profession who have resided here. No less 
than twenty-two have practised law in this town during the 
present centuj|r, and several of them with much distinc- 
tion. 

Bela Turner, Esq. came to this town and commenced 
practice about 1794. He possessed good talents, was a fine 
penman, and a popular teacher, but was not successful in 
his profession. After remaining here and in the vicinity 
some fifteen years, he died a victim to intemperance. 

Hon. Moses Paul Payson, a native of Rowley, Mass., 
graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1793, studied law with 



83 



Alden Sprague, Esq., of Haverhill, and came to Bath and 
opened an office in 1798. He had a large and successful 
practice, was much esteemed and honored, presided over de- 
liberative bodies with great acceptance, for several years 
was a member of the State Legislature, both in the House 
and Senate, was President of the Senate and of Grafton 
Bank, and a Trustee of Dartmouth College. He died here 
Oct. 30th, 1828, aged fifty-seven years. 

James I. Swan, Esq. read law with A. Sprague, Esq., 
of Haverhill, and came to this town and commenced prac- 
tice in 1807. He possessed native talents of ^ high order, 
was a very eloquent and able advocate, had an extensive 
practice most of his life, and died here, April 8, 1820, aged 
forty years. 

Ira Goodall, Esq., son of liev. David Goodall of Lit- 
tleton, N. H., came to Bath in April, 1809, studied his 
profession with Hon. M. P. Payson, entered into practice in 
1814, and has remained here ever since. For many years 
he did a very large business, and entered, it is said, a larger 
number of actions at court than any other lawyer in the 
State. He has represented the town in the State Legisla- 
ture, and is President of the White Mountain Railroad. 

William Mattocks, Esq., a brother of the celebrated 
Gov. John Mattocks of Vt., and a graduate of Dartmouth 
College in 1793, came to Bath and engaged in his profes- 
sion in 1817. Having remained here about three years, he 
returned to Danville, Vt., in 1820, and died there some 
twenty years ago. 

Isaac Patterson, Esq., son of Capt. Isaac Patterson, of 
Piermont, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1812, read 
law with the distinguished John Russell of Troy, N. Y., and 
Hon. Joseph Bell of Haverhill, N. H., was admitted to the 
bar in Sept. 1817, and opened an office in Lyme, N. H. 



84 



After practising there about two years, he came to Bath and 
entered into partnership with Hon. M. P. Payson for one 
year; then, in 1820, opened the office in which he has con- 
tinued to practice till the present time. For many years, he 
has had a large share of business to perform as a Magis- 
trate, and in the various town offices which he has been 
called to fill ; and for three years he represented the town 
in the State Legislature. 

Gen. Ira Young, son of Col. Samuel Young of Lisbon, 
studied law with James I. Swan, Esq., was admitted to the 
bar in 1817«^and after the death of Mr. Swan, in 1820, took 
his office and entered into practice. After remaining here a 
year or two, he removed to Colebrook, in Coos County, where 
for several years he had a successful practice. He then re- 
moved to Lancaster, where he pursued his professional busi- 
ness till his health failed, when, in 1845, he went to Cuba 
and died there in a few months, aged about fifty years. 

Jonathan Smith, Esq., son of Jonathan Smith of Pe- 
terborough, and nephew of Hon. Jeremiah Smith of Ex- 
eter, graduated at Harvard University, read law with Gov. 
Lincoln, of Worcester, Mass., and in 1825 opened a law 
office in Lisbon. After two years, he came to Bath and en- 
tered into partnership with Hon. M. P. Payson, whose 
daughter he married. After Mr. Payson's death, in 1828, 
he continued to practice here till about a year and a half 
before his death, when consumption undermined his health 
and brought him to the grave on the 10th of Aug. 1840, 
at the age of forty-two years. He was a sound lawyer, a 
good advocate, had a fair share of business, and was much 
respected and beloved. 

James Trask Woodbury, Esq., son of Peter Wood- 
bury, of Francestown, and brother of the late Hon. Levi 
Woodbury, opened an office in Bath in 1827, and practised 



85 



law here, some three years. But having become deeply in- 
terested in religion, he left the practice of law, studied The- 
ology, and was settled as pastor of the Congregational 
church in Acton, Mass., where he continued about twenty 
years. Some two years since, he left Acton and settled in 
Milford, Mass., where he still remains. Before leaving Ac- 
tion, he represented the town one or two years in the State 
legislature. 

Benjamin Bordman, Esq., came to Bath in Feb. 1828, 
and entered into partnership with Ira Goodall. After a few 
months he sold out to Andrew S. Woods, and left town in 
the autumn of the same year. 

Hon. Andrew S. Woods, son of Andrew Woods, the 
first native of Bath that practised law, was born in 1803, 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1825, read law with I. 
Goodall, and was admitted to the bar in Oct. 1828. He 
entered into partnership with Mr. Goodall, and continued with 
him, doing a large and successful business, till Oct, 1840, 
when he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme 
Court. This office he held till March 1855, when he was 
appointed Chief Justice of said Court. He was an able and 
sound lawyer, and is a highly acceptable Judge. 

Moses P. Payson, Esq., only son of Hon. M. P. Pay- 
son, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1829, read law at 
the Law School in Cambridge, and with Hon. Joseph Bell, 
of Haverhill, and in 1832 opened an office in Bath. Hav- 
ing left here in 1837, he at length resumed his profession in 
New York, and practised in the Criminal Courts of that 
city. He died there of consumption in March, 1854, at the 
age of forty-seven years. His body was brought to Bath 
and laid by the side of his parents and sisters. 

George W. Hutchins, Esq., a native of Bath, and 
son of Col, James Hutchins, was a student at Dartmouth 



86 



College two years, read law with Groodall and Woods, was 
admitted to the bar in 1835, and entered into partnership 
with J. Smith, Esq. Here he pursued his profession till his 
death, Aug. 4, 1839, aged thirty years. 

Arthur Livermore, Esq., son of the late Hon. Arthur 
Livermore of Holderness, graduated at Dartmouth College 
in 1829, read law with Jonathan Smith, Esq. one year, an 
two years with Hon. Jeremiah Mason, and was admitted t* 
the bar in 1833. He first opened an office at Gilmanton 
Iron Works, removed from there to Lowell, Mass., came to 
Bath in 1839, a short time before the death of J. Smith, 
Esq. , and took his place and business ; and here he still re- 
mains. His legal attainments are good, and he is a fine 
belles lettres scholar. 

John L. Carleton, Esq,, a native of Bath, and son of 
the late Ebenezer Carleton, Esq., fitted for college at Exeter 
under the instruction of the distinguished Dr. Abbott, and 
graduated at Dartmouth College, with the highest honors of 
his class, in 1831. Having read law with Henry Morris, 
Esq. of Buffalo, N. Y., and at the Law School of Yale 
College, he was admitted at the New Haven bar, to the 
practice of the law in Conn., in July, 1834. But without 
entering into practice there, he returned to this State and 
was admitted to the N. H. bar in Nov. of the same year, 
and immediately opened an office in this town, where he has 
remained ever since. 

Hon. Harry Hibbard, son of Hon. David Hibbard of 
Concord, Yt., a graduate of Dartmouth College in tlie class 
of 1835, read law with Gen. Isaac Fletcher of Lyndon, Yt., 
and with Gov. Y^illiams of Lancaster, N. H., opened an of- 
fice in Bath, in 1839, and soon attained to eminence in his 
profession ; and here he has continued to practice till the 
present time. He represented the town in the State Legis- 



87 



lature three years, was Speaker of the House two years, and 
a member and President of the State Senate. For the last 
six years, he has been a member of Congress, during all of 
which time he was one of the committee of Ways and 
Means of the House of Eepresentatives. 

Hon. Charles R. Morrison, a native of Bath, and 
son of the late William Morrison, Esq., read law with Good- 
all and Woods, and with I. Goodall, Esq., was admitted to 
the bar in July, 1842, and commenced practice as a partner 
of Mr. Goodall for five years. In 1845, he removed to 
Haverhill, and practised there with success till 1853, when 
he was appointed Circuit Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, which office he has held to the present time. 

Samuel H. Goodall, Esq., son of Ira Goodall, Esq., 
was born in Bath, March 31, 1823, and graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, in 1844. He read law with his father, en- 
tered into business with him, in Sept. 1847, and continued 
as his partner till June, 1853, when he removed to Ports- 
mouth, N. H., where he is doing a good professional busi- 
ness. 

William W. Hutchins, Esq., a native of Bath, and son 
of William Y. Hutchins, Esq. , graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1845, and studied his profession at the Law School in 
Cambridge, with Hon. Samuel Ingham of Conn., and with 
Hon. H. Hibbard of this town. He was admitted to the 
bar and commenced practice here in 1848, which he has 
continued to the present time, except a few months of absence 
at Haverhill, acting as assistant clerk of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas for Grafton County. 

John Bedel, Esq., son of the late Gen. Moody Bedel of 
this town, was born in Indian Stream Territory, July 8, 1822. 
Having spent his childhood and youth in Bath, he com- 
menced the study of law with Hon. H. Hibbard, in 1843. Be- 



88 



fore his studies were closed, he enhsted asa private soldier in 
the Mexican war, in March, 1847, was appointed a sergeant in 
May, a lieutenant in Dec, and had the command of a compa- 
ny several months in 1848. In 1849, he resumed his studies 
in Mr. Hibbard's office, was admitted to the bar in 1850, 
entered into partnership with Mr. Hibbard, in 1851, and re- 
mained in company with him till July, 1853, when he re- 
ceived an appointment in the Treasury Department at Wash- 
ington. He is now in the First Comptroller's Office. 

Alonzo p. Carpenter, Esq., son of Isaiah Carpenter, 
Esq. of Waterford, Vt., graduated at Williams Colle^ in 
1849, read law with Hon. A. S. Woods, and with I. and S. 
H. Goodall, of this town, and was admitted to the bar in 
1853. Taking the place of S. H. Goodall, he immediately 
commenced practice as the partner of Ira Goodall, and is now 
carrying on the firm of Goodall and Carpenter. 

Harry Bingham, Esq., of Littleton, formed a connec- 
tion with Hon. H. Hibbard, in 1854, and during the absence 
of the latter at Washington took charge of the office and en- 
gaged in practice, at the same time continuing his business at 
Littleton. 



EDUCATED AND PROFESSIONAL MEN— SONS 

OF BATH.* 

Few towns, having no larger population, have furnished so 
many educated and professional men within the last forty 
years, as Bath. Of those who have practised law and med- 
icine in this town, mentioned in the above lists, nine were 
sons of Bath. The names of those who have pursued their 

* Two or three of the individuals thus designated were not bom in 
this town, but came here in infancy or early childhood. 



89 



professional labors elsewhere, or are now ina course of pre- 
paratory study, are as follows : 

IcnABOD Sargent, son of Roger Sargent, graduated at 
Dartmouth College in 1817 : but I have not been able to 
learn any particulars of his subsequent history, nor even what 
profession he studied. 

LAWYERS. 

Joseph K. Bartlett, Esq., son of Amos Bartlett, read 
law with Jonathan Smith, Esq., of this town, opened an of- 
fice and practised a few years in Mount Vernon, N. H., then 
removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was cut off by the 
cholera, in 1832, at about 27 years of age. 

Theron Bartlett, Esq., son of Stephen Bartlett, left 
Bath with his father and went to Western New York some 
thirty years ago, and while yet a lad ; he at length studied 
law and established himself in practice at New Orleans, where 
it is supposed he still remains. 

Horace Gr. Hutchins, Esq., son of Hon. Samuel Hutch- 
ins, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1835, read law one 
year at the Law School in Cambridge, then with Hon. Rufus 
Choate, and in 1840 commenced business in Boston, where 
he still continues in the practice of his profession. 

Henry C. Hutchins, Esq., son of Hon. Samuel Hutch- 
ins, graduated in Dartmouth College in 1840, read law at 
the Law School at Cambridge and with Hubbard & Watts of 
Boston and when admitted to the bar commenced practice in 
Boston, as partner of A. S. Wheeler, where he still re- 
mains. 

Elbridge G. Johnson, Esq., son of the late Thomas 
Johnson, read law with Judge Redfield of Vt., and opened 
an office in Derby, of that State ; after practising there sev- 
8 



90 



eral years, he left for the West, where he has resided for 
the last few years. 

Henry C. Bartlett, Esq., son of Josiab Bartlett, a 
graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1845, read 
law with Hon. George C. Cahoon of Lyndon, Vt., opened 
an office in that town and commenced practice about 1850, 
was State's Attorney for Caledonia Co. in 1853-4, and has 
now removed to Providence, R. I. 

David R. Lang, son of Sherburne Lang, graduated at 
Dartmouth College in 1854, and has been studying law the 
past year at the Law School in Albany, N. Y. 

PHYSICIANS. 

DocT. Ebenezer W. Snow, son of Benjamin Snow, 
commenced his professional studies with Dr. John French 
in 1816, attended Lectures at the Medical School of Har- 
vard University, and established himself in practice at At- 
kinson, Me. ; where he died much esteemed some six years 
since. 

DocT. Michael B. Sargent, son of Roger Sargent, 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817. In the last Trien- 
nial Catalogue, M. D. and a star stand against his name, in- 
dicating that he became a physician, but is now numbered 
with the dead — when or where is to the writer unknown. 

DocT. MosES Hibbard, son of Col. Aaron Hibbard, 
studied medicine with Hon. J. French of Bath, attended 
Lectures at the Dartmouth Medical School, received the de- 
gree of M. D. in 1824, and, after about a year's practice in 
Glover, Vt., settled as physician in Lisbon, N. H., where,he 
still remains in successful practice. /" 

DocT. Myron K. Bartlett, son of Stephen Bartlett, 
learnt the printing business at Hanover, about 1820, went to 
Savannah, Ga., and was associated for a time with his brother 



nL 



91 '^^ccz.Co-i-' 

Cosam in publishing a newspaper ; tlien attended Medical 
Lectures at New York, and having settled in M«weft^^J3 o.r — -""^ 
practised medicine there till 1848, when he died at the age 
of about fifty years. -. r.- 

DocT. Ethan Bartlett, the youngest son of St-epbeit ' 
Bartlett, left Bath when a lad, and went with his father to 
Western New York, studied medicine, and when last heard 
from was engaged in practice there. 

MINISTERS. 

Rev. Joseph A. Merrill, son of Annis Merrill, (whose 
house was partly in Bath and partly in Lyman,) became a 
preacher in the Methodist connection some fifty years ago. 
For near thirty years he was stationed in Boston and other 
important places in Mass., and, for a portion of this time, 
was a presiding Elder in that Church. He died in 1819, 
aged about sixty-seven years.* 

Kev. Enoch Bartlett, son of Amos Bartlett, pursued 
his classical and theoloo-ical studies at Oberlin Colle^-Q and 

o O 

Lane Theological Seminary, Ohio, entered the ministry about 
1840, and for several years has been a Professor in the Oli- 
vet Institute, Michigan. 

Rev. Edward Kimball, son of Capt. James Kimball, 
pursued his professional studies at the Bangor Theological 
Seminary, where he graduated in 1850. After preaching 
about a year as a stated supply in Walden, Vt., he was or- 
dained in the Spring of 1852, as pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church in Halifax, Mass. Having recently been dis- 
missed, he represented that town in the State Legislature 
during its last session. 

* Mr. Merrill had several sons ; three of whom entered the Ministry, 
and two beoame lawyers in Boston. Some, if not all of these sons were 
born in Bath. 



92 



Stephen Bahtlett, eldest son of his father Stephen, and 
grandson of the Stephen who was among the first settlers of 
the town, commenced preparation for the ministry about 1812, 
fitted for College, entered Dartmouth and pursued his studies 
two years, when death suddenly terminated his earthly ca- 
reer. He is spoken of in the address as a young man of 
much promise. ^ 

EDITORS, ETC. . f, ,. " lU) 

CosAM E. Bartlett, second son of Stephen Bartlett,' 
entered a printing office at Hanover, about 1815 ; after a few 
years he went to Savannah, Ga., and, in connection with his 
brother Myron, established and edited a newspaper with dis- 
tinguished ability. He afterwards removed to Tallahassee in 
Florida, where he also conducted a paper ; he died there, 
near twenty years ago, aged about forty years. 

Yanness Bass, son of Capt. Warren Bass, has been ed- 
itor for a year or two past, of the White Mountain Banner, 
published at Littleton, N. H. 

Prof. Amasa Buck, son of Dea. Amasa Buck, devoted 
his life chiefly to the instruction of the young ; was Princi- 
pal of several Academies and High Schools in N. H. and 
Vt. ; went to Milwaukie, Wis., in 1846, and established a 
Seminary of which he was Professor for several years. He 
died there in Sept. 1852, aged sixty-seven years. 

UNDERGRADUATES. 

George W. Bartlett, son of Samuel M. Bartlett; 
James Edwin Johnson, son of Hon. J. H. Johnson ; and 
Edward AVoods, son of Hon. A. S. Woods, are now mem- 
bers of the Senior Class in Dartmouth Colleo;e. 

JMosES W. Bartlett, son of Dea. Stephen N. Bartlett, 
and Arthur E. Hutchins, son of Chester C. Hutchins, 



93 



Esq., are now members of the Junior Class in Dartmoutli 
Colleore. 

o 

Edward B. Goodall and Francis H. Goodall, sons 
of I. Goodall, Esq., are members of the Middle Class in the 
Chandler Scientific School of Dartmouth Colleo-e. 

•w-rr ^ 

William Child, son of Dwight P. Child, is studying 
medicine with Doct. David B. French of this town, and has 
attended two courses of Medical Lectures at Dartmouth Col- 
lege. 

Of the sons of Bath mentioned in the above lists, there 
are fifteen lawyers, six physicians, three ministers and one 
who died before his studies were finished, two editors, one 
teacher, one whose profession is unknown, and eight now 
connected with college — in all thirty-seven ; while it is oalj 
thirty-eight years since the first graduated. 



Rev. David Smith, an inhabitant of Bath for near twen- 
ty years, was born at Ipswich, Mass., in 1761, graduated at 
Harvard University in 1790, and was settled in the ministry 
at Amesbury, Mass., about 1795, where he continued several 
years. Being obliged to quit preaching, owing to the loss of 
his voice, he came to this town about 1807, as agent of the 
Iron Factory Company. He afterwards opened a store here, 
and remained till 1826, when he removed to Portland, Me., 
and died there in 1837, aged seventy-six years. He mar- 
ried, for his first wife, Mrs. Priscilla Adams Welch, in 1795 ; 
she having died in 1817, he married in 1826 Mrs. Lydia St 
Barb Mussey of PoTtland. He left seven children. 

Hon. Peter Carleton, a Bevolutionary soldier, was a 
member of the Convention for revising the Constitution in 
1791, and a Bepresentative in Congress from this District in 
8* 



94 



1807 and 8. For many years he resided in LandafF, but the 
latter portion of his life he spent in this town. He died here 
in 1828, between sixty and seventy years of age. 

Hon. James H. Johnson, an enterprising business man, 
and son of the late Seth Johnson of this town, was a Repre- 
sentative in Congress from this District four years, from 1845 
to 1849. 



TOWN OFFICERS, &c. 

Town Meetings in 1784, (the year of its organization,) 
were held at Mr. John Way's, who lived on the' Hurd place ; 
in 1785 and 6, at Mr. Jacob Kurd's ; for the next five years, 
at Capt. Ebenezer Sandborn's, now Mr. Minot's ; in 1792 
and 93, at the Town-house ; after that was burnt until the 
erection of the meeting-house, more than ten years, they were 
held sometimes at Capt. Sandborn's, more often at Mr. Ezra 
Child's, and several times at Dr. Moore's. 

The following is a list of the Moderators and Town Clerks 
chosen at the Annual meetings ; 
Years. Moderators. Town Clerks. 

1784, John Way, Jacob Hurd. 

1785, Stephen Bartlett " 

1786, Jeremiah Hutchins, ... " 

1787, Aaron Powers Timothy Hibbard. 

1788, Jeremiah Hutchins, ... " 

1789, " " . . .Jacob Hurd. 

1790, AmasaBuck, " 

1791,2 Henry Hancock, " *' 

1793, Ezra Child, " 

1794^5 '* " Aaron Hibbard. 

1796, Amasa Buck, Isaac Moore. 



95 



Years. Moderators. Town Clerks. 

1797, Ezra Child, Isaac Moore. 

1798, Amasa Buck, Stephen Bartlett. 

1799, " " Isaac Moore. 

1800, Ezra Child, '* 

1801,2,4, Amasa Buck, *' 

1803, " " Aaron Hibbard. 

1805, Ezra Child, Jas. Mitchell, Jr. 

1806,7, Moses P. Payson,. . . " 

1808,9, Ezra Child, Amos Towne. 

1810,11,12, . . . .Moses P. Payson, ... " 

1813, David Smith, David Mitchell. 

1814-17, Moses P. Payson, " 

1818-27, ......'' " ... .Wm. Y. Hutchins. 

1828,9, Ira Goodall, " 

1830, John French, '' 

1831, IraGoodall, '* 

1832, Andrew S. Woods, .. " 

1833,4,5, Ira Goodall, ". 

1836,7, Andrew S. Woods, . . " 

1838,9,40, ... .Ira Goodall, *' 

1841-44, James H. Johnson, . .Eben'r Carleton, Jr. 

1845, " " . .David K. Jackman. 

1846, Arthur Livermore, . . .James K. Hutchins. 

1847,8 Ira Goodall, John H. French. 

1849,50, " " Isaac Patterson. 

1851, Samuel H. Goodall, .. . " 

1852, John Bedel, " 

1853, Samuel H. Goodall, ... " 

1854, John H. French, '* 

1855, IraGoodall, ** 



96 



SELECTMEN. 



1784,. .Jeremiah Hutcliins, 
Ebenezer Sanborn, 
Ezra Child. 

1785,.. Stephen Bartlett, 

Jeremiah Hutchins, 
James Eastman. 

1786,. .Jeremiah Hutchins, 
Ezra Child, 
Henry Hancock. 

1787,. .Roger Sargent, 
Auron Powers, 
Amasa Buck. 

1788 ( Jeremiah Hutchins, 

to < Amasa Buck, 
1791 ( Henry Hancock. 

1792,.. Henry Hancock, 
Stephen Bartlett, 
Timothy Hibbard. 

1793 ( Amasa Buck, 
and< Jeremiah Hutchins, 

1794 ( Ezra Child. 
1795,. .Amasa Buck, 

Jeremiah Hutchins, 
John Merrill. 

1796,. .Amasa Buck, 

Jeremiah Hutchins, 
Aaron Hibbard. 

1797 ( Jeremiah Hutchins, 
and < John Clement, 

1798 ( Aaron Hibbard. 

1799,. .Amasa Buck, 

Michael Bartlett, 
Aaron Hibbard. 



1800,, 



.Amasa Buck, 
John Clement, 
Peter Johnson. 



1801 ( Aaron Hibbard, 
and < Samuel Hutchins, 

1802 ( John Child. 

1803,. .Aaron Hibbard, 
Michael Bartlett, 
John Clement. 

1804 ( Samuel Hutchins, 
to \ Michael Bartlett, 

1806 I John ChUd. 



1807,. .Samuel Hutchins, 
Michael Bartlett, 
James ^litchellJr. 
1808 ( John Child, 
to < Jonathan Barron, 

1810 ( Samuel West. 

1811 ( Samuel West, 
and \ David Mitchell, 

1812 ( John Clement. 
1813,.. Samuel West, 

Samuel Minot, 
John Clement. 

1814 ( Samuel West, 
and < John Child, 

1815 ( James Hutchins. 

1816,. .Samuel West, 
Samuel Minot, 
Caleb Hunt. 

1817,.. Samuel Minot, 
John Clement, 
Aaron Hibbard. 

1818,.. Samuel West, 
John Clement, 
Aaron Hibbard. 

1819,.. Samuel West, 

Timothy Barron, 
Dudley'Child. 

1820,. .Moses P. Payson, 
Samuel Hutchins, 
John Clement. 

1821,.. Samuel West, 

Sanmel Hutchins, 
John Clement. 

1822,.. Samuel West, 
Samuel Minot, 
Edmund Carleton. 

1823 f Samuel West, 
and < Caleb Hunt, 

1824 ( Ednmnd Carleton. 

1825,.. John Child, 
Caleb Hunt, 
Edmund Carleton. 

1826,. .John Clement, 
Samuel Minot, 
John H. Carbee. 



97 



1827 ( John H. Carbee, 
and < Caleb Hunt, 

1828 ( Ariel Miner. 

1829,.. John H. Carbee, 

John Child, 

Samuel Eoss. 
1830,.. John H. Carbee, 

John Child, 

George Wetherell. 
1831,.. John H. Carbee, 

Isaac Patterson, 

Ebenezer Carleton, Jr. 
1832,. .Andrew S. Woods, 

William A. Woods, 

William Lang. 

1833 ( Isaac Patterson, 
and < Sherburne Lang, 
1834' ( John Clement, Jr. 

1835,. .Isaac Patterson, 

Timothy H. Buck, 
John Martin. 

1836,.. William Lang, 
David Clement, 
Alexander Johnson. 

1837,.. William Lang, 
David Clement, 
Ebenezer Carleton, Jr. 

1838,.. John H. Carbee. 
Isaac Patterson, 
John Hibbard. 

1839,. .Isaac Patterson, 
John Hibbard, 
Joshua Stevens. 

1840,.. John H. Carbee, 
George Wetherell, 
William Lang. 

1841,.. William Lang. 

James H. Johnson, 
John W. Flint. 



1842,. .Ebenezer Carleton, Jr. 
Henry H. Lang, 
Moses Hastings. 

1843,.. Henry H. Lang, 

Samuel Mi not, Jr. 

Daniel Holt, Jr. 
1844,. .Henry H. Lang, 

Daniel Holt, Jr. 

Samuel Minot, Jr. 

1845,. .William A. Woods, 

John H. Carbee, 

Joseph Jackman. 
1846,. .Joseph Jackman, 

David Sutherland, Jr. 

William WaddeU. 

1847,. .Joseph Jackman, 

William Waddell, 

Moses B. Swett. 
1848,.. . John H. Carbee, 

Moses B. Swett, 

Isaac Patterson. 
1849,.. William Lang, 

William Waddell, 

Larkin Hastings. 

1850,.. William Lang, 

Larkin Hastings, 
Isaac Patterson. 

1851,. .Isaac Patterson, 

Phineas Chamberlain, 2d, 
Dwight P. Child. 

1852,. .Phineas Chamberlain, 2d, 

Dwight P. Child, 

John Hibbard. 
1853,.. William Lang, 

John B. Sutherland, 

Geoi'ge Cutting. 

1854,.. Dwight P. Child, 
John H. French, 
George Cutting. 



1855,. .William Minot, 
George Morrison, 
George Chamberlain. 



98 



REPRESENTATIVES FROM BATH TO THE 
GENERAL COURT. 

From 1785 to 1792, Bath was one of twelve towns that 
formed a single Representative District for the northern part 
of Coos County. In 1793, the three towns of Bath, Lan- 
dafF and Lincoln, united in sending Jeremiah Hutchins as 
their Representative ; and these towns continued to form one 
District till 1800, when Bath alone was permitted to send a 
Representative. Since then the following individuals have 
been chosen to represent the town : 



1800,1 


Jeremiah Hutchins. 


1832. 


Henry H. Lang. 


1802,3 


Moses P. Payson. 


1833,4 


Isaac Patterson. 


1804 


Amasa Buck. 


1835 


Jonathan Smith. 


1805,6 


Samuel Hutchins. 


1836,7 


Henry H. Lang. 


1807-11 


Koger Sargent. 


1838 


Jonathan Smith. 


1812-15 


Samuel Hutchins. 


1839,40 


John H. Carbee. 


1816,17 


David Mitchell. 


1841,2 


William Lang. 


1818 


John Clement. 


1843,4,5 


Harry Hibbard. 


1819,20 


James Hutchins. 


1846 


Zebina Newell. 


1821,2,3 


Abraham Thomas. 


1847 


John French. 


1824 


John Clement. 


1848 


John H. Carbee. 


1825 


Ira Goodall. 


1849,50 


Chester C. Hutchins. 


1826 


John Clement. 


1851 


Stephen M. Bartlett. 


1827 


Moses P. Payson. 


1852 


John H. Carbee. 


1828 


Ira Goodall. 


1853,4 


Samuel Minot. 


1829,30 


John H. Carbee. 


1855 


J. Morrill Jackman. 


1831 


Isaac Patterson. 







REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. 

The period of our Revolutionary struggle was one "that 
tried men'ssouls." In all of the older towns of the State, it 
presents ah important chapter in their history. It is not so 
in the history of Bath. When the war broke out, settle- 



99 



ments in the township had but recently commenced ; the in- 
habitants were few ; the town was not j.et organized ; conse- 
quently there were no records of that deeply interesting pe- 
riod kept. That the pulsations of liberty beat as strongly, 
and the fire of patriotism glowed as brightly here as else- 
where, we have incontestable evidence in the fact, that no 
less than forty-six of the inhabitants of Bath enlisted as sol- 
diers in the war ; while at that time the whole population is 
supposed to have been less than seventy families ! What 
other town furnished a larger number of soldiers in propor- 
tion to its population ? During the war, as already stated, 
Col. Timothy Bedel raised four regiments, two of which he 
commanded and led to Canada. 

Gen. Absalom Peters, (who died recently at Lebanon, 
Conn., at a very advanced age,) was Aid-de-camp to Gen. 
Jacob Bailey, of Newbury, Yt., and commanded the fort in 
Bath during a considerable part of the war. Among other 
amusing anecdotes, he used to tell how he drilled his men 
with cornstalks, instead of guns, for the purpose of frighten- 
ing the Indians ; and how severely their courage was once 
tried by the appearance of a squaw — referring to the alarm 
occasioned by " Black Sarah," as narrated by Mrs. Smith. 

The following list contains the names of those who entered 
the Revolutionary war from Bath. 

Timothy Bedel, John Beard, 

Daniel Bedel Cyrus Bailey, 

Moody Bedel, Abel Chase, 

John Bedel, Eliphalet Cleaveland, 

Jacob Bedel, Elisha Cleaveland, 

Joshua Bedel, Solomon Cleaveland, 

Richard Bedel, John Dodge, 

Robert Bedel, James Eastman, 



100 



Jonathan Eastman, 
Obadiali Eastman, 
William Eastman, 
John Foreman, 
Francis Fullington, 
Huo'li Gammel, 
Jeremiah Grilman, 
Peter Oilman, 
Samuel I. Gilman, 
David Greenleaf, 
Daniel Hunt, 
Joshua Hunt, 
Zebulon Hunt, 
Ira Hand, 



Noah Holladay, 
John Jewett, 
Benj. Lovekin, 
John Merrill, 
Thomas Newman, 
Moses Pike, 
Moses Pike, Jr. 
John Rowell, 
Ebenezcr Sandborn, 
Mark Sandborn, 
Richard Sandborn, 
Joshua Sanders, 
Stephen Smith, 
John Waters, 
David Weeks. 



Ebenezer Holladay, 
About thirty soldiers of the Revolution became inhabi- 
tants of Bath after the close of the war ; their names are as 
follows : 



Ezra Abbott, 
George Amy, 
William Alexander, 
David Bailey, 
Jonathan Barron, 
Timothy Barron, 
Amasa Buck, 
Edmund Brown, 
Jesse Carleton, 
Peter Carleton, 
Samuel Chase, 
John Clement, 
Thomas Currier, 
Ezra Gates, 



Aaron Hibbard, 
Tim-othy Hibbard,* 
Seth Johnson, 
Jacob Hurd, 
Samuel Lang, 
Jirah Martin, 
Phineas JMerrill, 
Annis Merrill, 
Moses Moore, 
Edward Pollard, 
Robert Rollins, 
James Smith, 
Timothy Stevens, 
Glazier Wheeler. 



Jesse Hardy, 
* Mr. H. was captured by the British and carried to England. 



101 



SICKNESS, DEATHS AND LONGEVITY. 

In 1811, the si3otted fever visited this town. In many 
places this dreadful disease was as alarming and fatal as is 
the cholera at the present day. Here it proved fatal in a 
few of the first cases, while the others recovered. In Bath 
village there were no less than twenty-seven cases at the 
same time ; of these some were really sick, and some terri- 
bly frightened. But hot water applied to the lower extremi- 
ties, and ice and cooling applications to the head, generally 
restored them in a few hours or days. 

Allusion is made in the address to the great number of 
deaths which occurred in 1842. The disease which occa- 
sioned so great mortality, was the Epidemic Erysipelas. To 
those who gave birth to children that year, in nearly every 
instance it proved fatal ; nor did others escape the fell de- 
stroyer. " The hills looked green, the vallies smiled with 
fertility, the air seemed like the pure breath of heaven ; but 
the angel of death stood among us, and in a few months cut 
down no less than seventy-four victims," — being nearly ono 
in twenty of the whole population. 

It is stated in the address, that for years the average 
number of deaths in town was 19. In 1850, there were 15 
deaths; in 1851, 19; in 1852, 11; in 1853, 36; and in 
1854, 30 —averaging 22 1-5 for the five years. The num- 
ber that died in 1853 was, however, much larger than usual. 
Of these, 9 were under 6 years of age, and 10 upwards of 
70 ; the Dysentery having been fatal among the young, and 
the Influenza among the very aged — 8 of the lattei^aver- 
aged just 83 years of age. 

That Bath is a healthy town, is indicated by the largo 
number of its inhabitants who have lived beyond tl^e a^e 
9 



102 



scriptura ly allotted to man. The following is a list of those 
who have died at eighty and upwards. It may not be per- 
fectly accurate, but I have spared no pains to make it so ; 
having examined the grave stones in the several burying 
places, consulted several family records, and conversed with 
many aged persons and others upon the subject. 

At the age of 80, Michael Bartlett died in 1840 ; Dor- 
cas Bartlett, widow of Michael, in 1846; Zebulon Hunt, in 
1839; Sarah, wife of Joseph Gordard, in 1848. 

At 81, Joshua Ricker died in 1818 ; Susannah, wife of 
John Clement, in 1842 ; Jireh Martin, in 1843 ; James 
Smith, in 1844. 

At 82, widow Anna Buck, mother of Dea. Buck, died 
in 1815 ; David Weeks, in 1827; Lydia, wife of Annis 
Merrill, in 1845. 

At 83, Lois, widow of Joel Carbee, died in 1844; Peas- 
ley Gordon, in 1854. 

At 84, Rebecca, widow of William Eastman, died in 
1806;* Dea. Amasa Buck, in 1840; Hannah, wife of 
Ezra Child, in 1844; Thomas Johnson, in 1852. 

* When Mr. Eastman came to Biith, in 1767, he had sons nearly ar- 
rived at manhood. One of tliese, Obadiah, after residing here more than 
fifty years, left the town and died at Littleton, in 1836, aged eighty-seven 
years. James, another of his sons, lived on the old place till he was 
nearly eighty, then moved to Haverhill, where he died in 1853, aged 
ninety-nine years, and four months. Moses, a third son, lived in this 
town till he was quite aged, then went to Haverhill where he died, in 
1853, at the age of 97 years. He had three other sons Avho also lived to 
an advanced age. 

Hannah Eastman, the mother of William, was taken captive in " the 
old Indian war," and carried to Canada, where she remained about 
three years. Soon after her capture, she was compelled to witness the 
cruel death of her little babe, which was torn from her arms by the In- 
dians and inhumanly trampled upon till it was dead! Though she suf- 
fered greatly from hunger, she was generally treated with kindness dur- 
ing her captivity. 



103 



At 85, Setli Johnson died in 1833 ; Daniel Hunt, in 
1837; Sybil H. wife of Dea. Buck, in 1838 ; Esther, wid- 
ow of Jonathan Gordon, about 1838 ; Robert Rollins, in 
1842; Caleb Homer, in 1853; Ezra Gates, in 1844. 
The latter was long a resident of Bath and was buried 
here, though he died in Newbury, Vt. 

At 86, Abigail, * widow of Henry Hancock, died in 
1831; Jesse Hardy, in 1846; Bridget Goodale, in 1847 ; 
Jane, widow of Thomas Currier, in 1848 ; Michael Mallett, 
in 1849 ; Isabel, wife of Moses Merrill, in 1853. 

At 87, Jonathan Weeks died in 1794 ; Daniel Hayward, 
in 1837 ; Edward Pollard, in 1841 : Ruth, wife of Michael 
Mallett, in 1843 ; Ezra Child, in 1846; James Hadlock, in 
1849; Robert Chase, in 1853. 

At 88, Mary, widow of Dea. John Hoyt, of Amesbury, 
died in 1819 ; Sally, widow of David Bailey, in 1846; 
Sally, widow of Edward Pollard, in 1849- Sarah, widow of 
Benjamin Knight, in 1853 ; Abigail, widow of Jesse Har- 
dy, in Feb. 1855. 

At 90, Susan, widow of Dea. Samuel Lang, died in 1845; 
Abigail, widow of Seth Johnson, in 1851. 

At 91, John Waters died in 1889; Hannah, widow of 
John Waters, in 1850 ; John Clement, in 1853. 

At 92, widow Abio-ail Child, mother of John and Dud- 
ley, died in 1830 ; John Dodge, about 1830 ; Naomi, wid- 
ow of Joseph Smith, in 1831. 

At 93, Sarah, widow of Abraham Amy, died in 1820. 

At 95, Mr. Annis Merrill died in 1847. f 

* At the time of her marriage with ^Ir. Hancock, she was the widow 
of Capt. John Hazen, the first settler in Haverhill. Her father was the 
Kev. Josiah Gotten, who died at Sandown, N. H., in 1780. 

t The house in which Mr. Merrill lived, stands partly in Bath and 
partly in Lyman — being on the dividing line between the two towns- 



104 



At 96, Hannah, widow of Aaron Powers, died in 1839. 

At 99, Mrs. Swicher, widow of Stephen Swicher, died in 
1834. 

At 100, Hannah B. widow of John Morrill, died Nov. 6, 
1854, aged 100 years, 2 months, and 11 days. She is sup- 
posed to be the only inhabitant of the town, that has lived 
to the age of one hundred years. 

In this connection I will insert the names of those per- 
sons now living in Bath (July, 1855) who are upwards of 
eighty years of age. 

Abiel Swett, aged 89 ; Moses Merrill, aged 88 ; Jenny, 
widow of James Hutchins, aged 88 ; Amos Towne, aged 
87; Jacob Bedel, aged 84; Walter Parsons, aged 84; 
Benjamin Blodget, aged 84 ; Ezra Goodwin, aged 83 ; Ruth, 
widow of James Smith, aged 83 ; Martha, widow of John 
Child, aged 82 ; Jahleel Willis, aged 81. Solomon Smith, 
and the widow of Samuel Minot, lack only a few montlis 
of 80. 



CASUALTIES, &c. 

Owing to the many high hills and mountains in which the 
Ammonoosuc rivers have their rise, both of them are sub- 
ject to great and sudden inundations. At such times much 
devastation often ensues. The loss which Bath has sus- 
tained from this source alone, particularly in having its nu- 
merous bridges repeatedly swept away, is very great. One of 
the most memorable and destructive of these floods occurred 
Feb. 12, 1824, when the long and expensive bridge at Bath 
villao-e was carried off, and also both of the dams across the 
falls. The roof and upper part of the bridge were carried 
away almost whole, and deposited on the meadow nearly half 



105 



a mile below. During the preceding nigbt, Feb. 11, a fire 
broke out near the bridge, which raged with great violence, 
consuming the principal stores, and most of the other build- 
ings, on the west side of the main street. The ruins of the 
fire and flood presented the next day a sad spectacle to the 
numerous witnesses of the scene. From the effects of this 
disaster, it is said that the business interests of the village 
have never fully recovered. 

A dreadful calamity occurred in 1776. The dwelling 
house of Joshua Bedel (situated on the farm now owned by 
Eph'm Clough,) took fire during the absence of the parents, 
and was burnt to ashes, consuming three little children in 
the flames ! When the frantic mother, who was at a near 
neighbor's, came hastening to the heart-rending scene, she had 
to be held, by strong men to prevent her rushing into the 
flames to rescue her little ones from the devouring element. 

In the autumn of 1793, a fire broke out in the woods, 
which destroyed much wood and timber, and also burnt to 
ashes Dr. Moore's pest house, and the town house then used 
as a meeting house. 

In 1799, the house of Stephen Couch was burnt near 
where the Bath Hotel now stands — this was the first two 
story framed house built in Bath village. 

In March, 1806, Doct. Isaac Moore's dwelling house took 
fire and was consumed with most of its contents. 

Near the same time, Mitchell's Store, and M. P. Payson's 
ofl&ce, were destroyed by fire, where 0. Carle ton's store now 
stands. 

In Jan. 1833, the house of Dea. Alvan Hastings was burnt, 
on the site where Hs widow now lives. In April of the same 
year, Horatio Buck's house and shed were burnt, with a con- 
siderable amount of wood, farming utensils, &c. 

In 1839, Jonathan Brown's house, at Swift AVater, took 



106 



fire and was consumed. His neighbors immediately turned 
out, and in one week a new house (48 by 28,) was built, and 
occupied by the ftimily ; and in the evening a lecture was 
preached in it by Rev. D. Sutherland. This house is now 
occupied by Joseph Davis. 

In 1842, a clothing mill at Swift Water, belonging to 
Myron S. Woodard, was burnt; and in 1844, the store of 
Moody Chamberlain was destroyed in the same manner. 

In the autumn of 1846, the farm house of William A. 
Woods took fire late in the evening and was consumed. It 
was occupied by David Little ; and the manner in which be 
and his little ones were preserved from the flames, is worthy 
of record. Himself and wife were absent at one of the 
neighbor's ; a furious gale of wind blew open the kitchen 
door, and scattered the fire about the room. In a bedroom at 
the end of the kitchen were Mr. L's three little children, and 
also Mary Stickaey, who, though only nine years of age, act- 
ed like a little heroine. Being aroused from sleep, and 
finding the kitchen in flames, she opened a window, and with 
much effort succeeded in getting all the little ones out in 
their night clothes, climbing after them herself. Then in the 
midst of the darkness and tempest, she carried the youngest 
in her arms, accompanied by the others, through the woods 
and fields more than half a mile to her father's house. Af- 
ter their departure, the father came hastening to the spot, 
and not knowing of their safety, rushed into the burning room 
and immediately fell through into the cellar ; but from his 
acquaintance with the place, and through a kind Providence, 
he succeeded in getting out, and thus escaping a terrible 
death ! 

A calamitous and tragical event occurred in the autumn of 
1849. The barns and all the out-buildings belonging to Cy- 
rus Dow and his grandson, with a year's stock of hay and 



107 



grain, were burnt in the night. They were set on fire by 
Alden Dow, the son and father of the owners. As soon as 
he had fired the buildings, he went into the house, took a 
razor and cut his own throat. It is said that he was in a 
state of frenzied excitement, produced by anger and intoxi- 
cating drinks, when he perpetrated these terrible deeds. 

In the evening of May 22d, 1855, the dwelling house and 
barns of Horace Bedel were all burnt to ashes, involving a 
loss of about two thousand dollars. 

Several other buildings have been burnt in Bath at differ- 
ent times ; such as three blacksmith's shops, three school 
houses, J. Porter's tannery, and E. C. George's shoe 
store. 

Deaths from drowning and other casualties have been 
numerous. Indeed the first death that occurred in Bath was 
of this kind. In 1767, James, a son of Jaasiel Harriman, 
two years old, fell into a kettle of boiling soap and was 
scalded to death. 

About the same time, a man named Pool belonging to 
Haverhill, was drowned in the Connecticut river a short dis- 
tance above the Narrows ; from which circumstance a bar in 
the river is still called by his name. 

In 1772, Cyrus, eldest son of Col. Timothy Bedel, nine 
years of age, went out to where some men were chopping, 
and was crushed to death by a falling tree ; the distressed 
father scooped up the brains of his little son in his hands and 
carried them to the house, while others bore the mangled 
body ! 

About 1790, Ichabod Sargent, brother of Roger Sar- 
gent, while fishing just below the falls at Bath village, fell 
in and was drowned. 

About 1795, Simeon Lapish was drowned, while crossing 
the Connecticut river in a canoe, just above the mouth of the 
Ammonoosuc. 



108 



In 1798, Mr. Benjamin Ricker attempted to cross the 
Connecticut river, in a time of high water, about a mile be- 
low Dodge's Falls, on horseback ; in ascending the steep 
bank on the Vermont side, the horse fell over, and both 
were drowned. 

In 1801, Elijah Hurlbut, aged twenty-six, living at Ezra 
Child's, in sliding from the top of a haymow, came upon the 
handle of a rake, that entered his body some fifteen inches, 
causing his death in a few hours. 

Near the same time, Gideon Currier, a young man, and a 
lad named John Townsend, were drowned together in the 
Connecticut river, about a mile below Dodge's Falls. 

In 1802, an aged man by the name of Jonathan Farewell 
came to a melancholy end. He was a town pauper, residing 
with Dea. Dudley Child, on the farm now occupied by AVil- 
liam Lang. There were different conjectures as to the cause 
of his leaving home ; but the most probable one seems to be, 
that, as he was in the habit of making brooms, he went into 
the woods in search of materials ; and while thus occupied 
that he became bewildered, lost his way, and wandered about 
till his strength was exhausted, when he sunk down and died. 
Much search was made for him but without success. After 
the lapse of near eighteen months, his skeleton was found in 
the valley a little below where John Hibbard now lives. ^ 

In Aug. 1809, a young man named Peter Niles,* while in 
a state of partial insanity, shot himself with a rifle, in the 
woods a little southeast of M. P. Payson's. 

* The circumstances connected with its discovery were not a little 
remarkable. A dishonest man, living in Littleton, had taken a fancy 
to a noble cow belonging to Capt. Ward, of Haverhill, and i-esolved to 
appropriate her to himself. For this nefarious purpose, he left Littleton 
on foot, and having reached the high ground where Moses Lang now 
lives, he saw men engaged in putting up a frame at Ezra Child's. To 
avoid being seen, he left the road and turned off into the woods in a 
southwesterly direction, where he came upon the bones. He proceeded 



109 



In 1810, Leopold Tissot, a German, in attempting to cross 
the Amraonoosuc river above Hutcliins' mill-pond, in the 
night, on horseback, fell in and was drowned. 

About two years after, his widow, Jane Tissot, rendered 
partially insane by her husband's death, went into the river 
to find him and was drowned. ^ 

In 1812, Powers, son of Benjamin Foreman, aged near 
eighteen, was drowned in Connecticut river while bathing. 

In 1815, as John Charles, (an aged Hessian, who was 
captured in the war of the Revolution,) was ascending the 
hill a little west of the bridge in Bath village, he was run 
over by a load of brick drawn by an affrighted span of hor- 
ses, and so much injured that he died in a short time. About 
the same time, a son of Maxi Haseltine, some six years of 
age, fell through the covering of a coal-pit into the burning 
mass beneath, and was so much burned that he survived but 
a short time. 

In the autumn of 1817, the wife of Amos Kimball of 
Haverhill, in company with her brother, attempted to ford 
the Ammonoosuc above the upper village ; the river being 
high, the wagon body became detached from the forward 
wheels, and she and her infant child were both drowned. 

Near the same time, Capt. Roberts, of Ryegate, while as- 
cending the Connecticut river in a canoe, was drowned near 
Polph's landing. 

About 1818, James, son of John George, some three or 
four years old, was killed by a stick of timber which fell up- 
on him from a wood-pile. 

on, found the cow, and in the night drove her to Littleton. Capt. 
Ward, unable to find any trace of her, gave her up as lost ; but having 
occasion sometime afterward, to go to Littleton on business, he came 
across his cow feeding by the roadside. After the thief had been ar 
rested and convicted, he made Icnown^where the dead man's bones were, 
and how he came to know it. 



110 



In 1820, Isaac Gordon, aged 22, was killed by the kick 
of a horse. The same year, Capt. Martin Chamberlain, in 
crossing the Connecticut river at Dolph's Landing from Rye- 
gate, fell out of the boat and was drowned. 

In April, 1821, a young man named Jacob Merrill, was 
crushed to death in, the mill-yard at Bath village, by some 
logs rolling over him. During the same year, Zebulon, son 
of Webster Annis, eleven years of age, was drowned in the 
Connecticut river, three fourths of a mile below Dodge's 
Falls. 

Near 1822, as Mr. Joseph Ricker and his wife were riding 
in a sleigh, not far from Mr. Minot's, they met a double 
sleigh, driven furiously by a company of young men partial- 
ly intoxicated. Seeing them coming Jehu like, Mr. R. made 
great efforts to get out of the road ; but foiling to do so, a 
collision took place, and Mrs. Ricker was killed. 

About 1825, James Cowing was killed, near the Bedel 
farm, by a log rolling over him. 

April 25th, 1827, Moses A. Hunt, son of Zebulon Hunt, 
aged twenty-one, was drowned in the Connecticut river, near 
the mouth of the Ammonoosuc, in consequence of a raft 
breaking up. The same year, widow Anna Saunders fell 
out of a canoe, in which she was being ferried across the 
Ammonoosuc below Abiel Deming's, and was drowned. 

In 1828, a man named Thompson, belonging to Corinth, 
was knocked from a raft while passing the Narrows, and was 
drowned. 

In 1834, Bohan Kentfield, having in the night gone up on 
the hay in the tavern barn, fell down through a scuttle and 
broke his neck. In July of the same year, Albert, son of 
Benjamin Elliott, went into the Ammonoosuc at Salmon 
Hole, near the Upper village, to bathe, and was drowned. 

In 1839, Jonathan, son of Oliver Corey, aged seventeen 



Ill 



years, in fording the Aramonoosuc on horseback, just above 
Salmon Hole, fell in and was drowned. 

In 1842, Capt. Enoch Chase committed suicide by hang- 
ing himself. On the morning of Sept. 9th, of the same 
year, Mrs. Adeline T. Comings, wife of William F. Com- 
ings, was found dead in her sleeping room, suspended to a 
bed post by a handkerchief. A coroner's inquest was held 
the next day, which decided that she committed suicide. 
After some months, her husband was indicted for her mur- 
der ; and in Sept. 1843, he was tried, found guilty, and sen- 
tenced to be hung. But having obtained a reprieve from the 
Governor till the next meetinor of the Leo-islature, his sen- 
tence was then commuted to imprisonment for life. And in 
June, 1823, after being in prison nine years, he received a 
pardon from the Executive authority of the State, 

In 1842, Timothy Bedel, while astride of some logs that 
commenced rolling, was so much injured that he lived only a 
short time. 

In August, 1843, Jackson, son of Jabez Bailey, at a 
time of high water, attempted to go in a boat from near the 
mouth of the Ammonoosuc to Wells river ; when he had 
proceeded but a little distance, the boat was upset and he 
was drowned. 

On the 9th of Oct., 1844, Mr. Oilman Gale, of LandafF, 
was drowned in the Ammonoosuc, above Bath village. Hav- 
ing become deluded, if not partially insane, with Millerism, 
he thought himself directed by God to warn the inhabitants 
of Bath village, and that in going there he must pursue a 
straight course, regardless of roads, woods, or fences. This 
he attempted. As he approached the village, it was growing 
dark, or had actually become so ; he crossed the read a little 
distance above the graveyard, descended to the bank of the 



112 



river, stepped in, and fell a victim to his strange delu- 
sion. 

Not far from the same time, Alexander Gilchrist of Bar- 
net was drowned in the Connecticut river at Dodge's Falls. 

In 1848, a young man named Dustin, from Shipton, C, 
E., was knocked from a raft in the Narrows and drowned. 

In June, 1851, as Dea, Alvan Hastings was coming from 
the Weeks' neighborhood to Bath village, his horse took fright 
and run ; he was thrown out and killed, while his youngest 
daughter, who was with him, escaped without serious injury. 
In August of that year, Sewell Simpson was drowned in 
the mill-pond at Bath village while bathing on Sabbath morn- 
ing. And in December of the same year, Isaac Bedel, of 
this town, while at work upon the railroad in Lisbon, was in- 
stantly killed by a bank of frozen earth falling upon 
him. 

In 1852, Moses Davis, while at work in a mill at Swift 
Water, fell into a tub-wheel that was in rapid motion, and 
was instantly killed. 

In 1854, a young man belonging to Byegate, by the 
name of McQueen, was drowned in the Connecticut river 
near Dodge's Falls. 

In July, 1855, Ellen Josephine, daughter of John A. 
Greenleaf, between five and six years of age, in returning 
from school at Woods ville, fell into the Ammonoosuc just 
above the bridge and was drowned. 

As has been already stated, the first death in Bath was 
that of a child which was scalded to death ; not less than 
eight other children have died from the same cause, namely, 
a child of Joseph Dodge, of Abiel Chamberlain, of a Mr. 
Farewell, of Horatio Buck, of Isaac Woods, of Life Moul- 
ton, of Ethan Moulton, and of William Whicher. 



113 



There have been in this town two or three remarkable 
cases of preservation, which are worthy of notice. 

About 1820, in a time of high water, John Hunt an ath- 
letic yomig man, while " catching up " logs under the bridge 
at Bath village, was accidently precipitated into the impetuous 
flood. At first he made a desperate eflort to swim to the 
shore ; but finding himself unable to stem the swift current, 
with great presence of mind he turned upon his back, and 
with his feet foremost assumed a suitable position for being 
carried over the Falls ; just as he had glided over the brink, 
that, he might avoid being sucked under, he leaped forward 
almost out of the descending sheet of water, and was in- 
stantly buried in the raging waters beneath. For a moment, 
the numerous spectators of the scene held their breath in 
dread suspense — but the next moment, as they saw hira 
rise to the surface and strike out with lusty sinews for the 
island below, loud shouts of applause spontaneously burst 
forth from every tongue. 

A year or two after, a woman by the name of Higgins, at- 
tempted to cross the Connecticut in a skiff just above 
Dodge's Falls. This she had often done before ; but the 
liver being now much swollen, when she reached the swiftest 
part of the current, in spite of all her efi<3rts, she was borne 
rapidly down towaixls the Falls. Perceiving she must be 
swept over, she deliberately seated herself in the bottom of 
the boat with the oare beside her, and seizing hold of a cross 
piece with a firm grasp, she passed over in safety. Having 
glided down the foaming current a short distance, she re- 
sumed her oars and attempted to turn the boat towards the 
shore ; but in doing so, it was capsized, precipitating her into 
the water ; seizing hold of its edge, she clung to it till res- 
cued by persons who cam.e to her assistance. 

Feb. 12, 1824. On the evening of the day in which the 
10 



114 



bridge at Bath Tillage was swept away, and the evening suc- 
ceeding that in which the great fire occurred, as Esq. Gove 
of Whitefield was returning from Haverhill, in attempting 
to cross a small rivulet near the mouth of the Wild Ammo- 
noosuc, over which the bridge had been carried off, he and 
his team were precipitated into the swollen flood ; notwith- 
standing the darkness, he by great effort succeeded in escap- 
ing from imminent peril, while a very valuable span of 
horses were drowned. 

In the spring of 1806^ the first bridge built across the 
Ammonoosuc at Bath village, was demolished by the ice. It 
occurred on Sabbath afternoon, just after the people living in 
the village and the east part of the town had returned from 
meeting. Only about ten minutes after the last persons had 
crossed, it was suddenly torn from its foundations ; had it 
taken place a few minutes earlier, many lives would have 
been periled. 



POPULATION. 

The population of Bath was — 

In 1790 493 In 1830 1626 

1800 825 1840 1591 

1810 1316 1850 1574 

1S20 1498 



ITEMS FROM THE FIRST INVENTORY. 

The first inventory copied into the town records, was for 
1793. A few items from this, in contrast with similar items 
from the inventory of 1800, may be instructive. The num- 



115 



ber of acres of improved land, was probably greater tlian tlie 

quantity here given. 

In 1793, the number of Polls -was 125 In 1800 149 

Oxen 80 122 

Cows 140 241 

Horses 47 02 

Acres of tillage land 100 177 

Mowing land 322 649 

Pasturing land 322 649 

In 1793, Jacob Hurd had the greatest amount of im- 
proved land, 54 acres; and Jeremiah Hutchins had the 
next, 53 acres. 

In 1793, the largest landholder was Moody Bedel. . 302 acres 

second " Ezra Child 300 " 

third " David Kelley 300 '• 

fourth " James Eastman 277 " 

fifth *' Jeremiah Hutchins . .240 " 

In 1800, the largest landholder was Moody Bedel 452 acres 

second " Stephen Bartlett 400 " 

third " Jeremiah Hutchins . .389 " 

fourth " James Eastman 358 " 

fifth " Henry Hancock 330 " 

The following individuals stood the highest on the tax list, 
namely : 

In 1793, Jeremiah Hutchins £o <3s 

Jacob Hurd 4 16 

Roger Sargent 4 

Ezra €hild 3 19 

Ebenezer Sandborn 3 18 

Henry Hancock 3 2 

In 1800, Jeremiah Hutchins $35.26 

Amos Kimball 19.06 

Henry Hancock 17.68 

Andrew Woods 14''.72 

Josiah Abbott 13.26 • 

Ezra Child 12.73 

In 1854, the number of polls was 3G3 ; do. of sh^ep, 
4348 ; do. of neat stock, 1830 ; do. of horses, 384. Value 



116 



of improved and unimproved lands, $255,434. Whole 
amount of inventory, $464,531. 



PAPER MONEY. 

It has been seen that many of the appropriations voted by 
the early settlers, were to be paid in -wheat and other kinds 
of grain, instead of money. The reason of tliis may not be 
known to some of the present generation. It was owing to 
the small amount of gold and silver coin then in circulation, 
and the great depreciation in the value of paper money and 
public securities. The following scale of depreciation, fur- 
nished by a late treasurer of the State of .Massachusetts, will 
give some idea of the pecuniary difficulties with which our 
fathers had to contend. The depreciation in New Hamp- 
shire was similar to that in Massachusetts. 

SCALE OF DEPRECIATIOX. 

" Agreeable to an act of the Comnionwealth of Massachu- 
setts, to be observed as a rule for settling contracts made 
since Jan. 1, 1777 — $100 in gold and silver, at that time, 
being equal to $105 in Bills of Credit of the United States. 

1777 Jnn. $105 May $115 Axig. $150 Nov. $300 

1778 " 325 " 400 " 450 " 545 

1779 " 742 " 1215 " lOSO " 2308 

1780 " 2934 Feb. 3322 Mar. 3736 Apr. 4000 

In x\pril, 1780, one silver dollar was equal to forty of 
paper money ; in May, it was equal to sixty ; in August, it 
was equal to seventy ; and in February, 1781, it was equal 
to seventy-five." The above is much abridged from the 
original, which gave the value for every month daring each 
of the years. 



in 



SOME FIRST THINGS. 

For convenience, several items may well be grouped to- 
gether under the above heading. 

The first Charter of Bath, was granted in 1761 ; the first 
person named as Proprietor was Andrew Grardner ; and he 
was the first settler in 1765. At his house the Proprietors 
held their first, and several subsequent meetings. 

The first family that moved into town was Jaasiel Hani- 
man's, in 1766 ; (individuals had come the year before, but 
without families.) The first child born in Bath, was a daugh- 
ter of his, named Mary Harriman ; her birth took place Dec. 
8, 1766. She married Simeon Smith of Campton, and died 
in that town near the close of 1854, aged eighty-eight years. 

The first death in town was in the same family ; a little 
son of Mr. Harriman, two years old, was scalded to death 
in 1767. This child was the first person buii§d in the grave- 
yard at Bath village. 

The first marriage in Bath, it is said, was that of John 
Waters to Hannah PilvC, and that all the people in town wit- 
nessed it ! It took place near the commencement of the 
Revolutionary war, in the fort on Eastman's meadow, where 
all the inhabitants were collected at that period. 

The first road was made in 1768, extending diagonally 
across the town from southwest to northeast. 

The first bridge at Bath village over the Auimonoosuc, 
was built in 1794. 

The first mills were built in 1772, near the mouth of 3Iill 
Brook. 

The first meeting-house was erected in 1803, finished and 
dedicated in 1805, and painted in 1806. 
The first framed building erected in Bath, tradition says, was 
10' 



118 



a "barn on the farm now belonging to Dwiglit P. Ciiilcl, iihoul 
1775, Widow James Smith remembers attending the rais- 
ing of Col. Timothy Bedel's bam in 1777 ; it was a great 
occasion ; all the women and cbildren, as well as the men, 
were present. When the men had hfted the first broadsidcf 
as high as their breasts, it came to a stand ; unable to raise 
^t higher, they called to their wives for help ; the women 
dropped their babes iota the arms of the older children, seized 
gome handspikes,^ rushed to their assistance, and the frame 
■went up forthwith. 

Not far from the same period, the first framed house in 
town was built on Col. Hurd's place, a little north of where 
the old meeti»2;--hoiPS€r staads, Tl^e first framed house at 
Bath village was built by Knowles Clark, in 1793 or 94,- 
near where the Congregational meeting-liouse is now situated 
— H was but one story high. A two story framed house 
was ereetecL the next year by Stephen Couch, where the ho- 
tel now stands. Les'^ tbaa seventy years ago, what now in- 
cludes Bath village, contained- only three leg. cabins.- One, 
belono-ing to Mr. Mills,, was near Gcoi-ge Morrison's house ;. 
another, Mr. Sargent's,, was not far from W. V. Hutcbins' 
stone house ; the other, -^9^ near the lower end of the vil-- 
lage. 

The first settler at Bath village,- as aiready stated, was J.- 
Harriman, and the Falls here were- formerly known as Har- 
riman's Falls. The second, was Daniel Mills, who is sup- 
posed to have come about 1783. Boger Sargent was the 
next, who came about 1786. Near the same time, Elisha. 
Cleaveland settled on the plain, a few rods east of the grave^ 
yard. 

The first settlor at the upper village, was Jolni Sawyer, iu 
1760 ; the second, was Moses Pike, in 1707 ; the third, was 



119 



Elisha Locke, about 1771 ; and the fourth -was John Merrill.* 
lie sold to Jeremiah Hutchins the land on which Chester C . 
Hutchins' house now stands. Formerly all the level por- 
tions of this village were suhjcct to inundations, and some- 
times to sucli an extent, that the inhabitants were compelled 
to flee from their habitations for safety. 

The first settler at Swift Water, was Jonathan Cos, in 1816, 
less than forty years ago. 

The first corn, pumpkins, and cucumbers raised in town, 
were upon the great Rock, just below Bath village, in 17G7. 
They were planted by Mercy, a daughter of J. Harriman, 
about nine years of age, who carried the dirt in her apron on 
to the top of the rock, and there made her a garden. She was 
afterwards married to a man by the name of Carr, and died 
at Corinth, Yt., in 1847, aged eighty-nine years. 

Chaises were first introduced here in 1807. In the in- 
yentory for 1808, they are found against- the names of M. P. 
Payson, S. and J. Hutchins, David Mitchell, and Amos 
Towne ; in 1809, against the above, and also Ezra Child, 
John Haddock, Aaron Powers, David Smith, and Abraham 
Thomas ; and the next year against James I. Swan, and 
Samuel Browning. Wagons were introduced some four years 
later, about 1811. 

Stoves for warming buildings were first used in this town 
about 1810. At the annual town meetino; in March 1811, a 
vote was passed, " that the selectmen furnish and put into 
the meeting-house two suitable stoves ;" this was probably 
done the ensuing autumn. Cooking stoves were introduced 
in 1815 or 16. 

* Mr. M. was aecTjsto-med to tell how he and his family come to Bath 
through tlie "woods in a foot-path^ driving his oxen one before the other; 
and of his going on foot to the Oliveriun mill at Uaverhill, carrying the 
grain upon his back. 



120 



Clocks were first introduced in 1808. At that time, three 
eight-day brass clocks were brought in and sold, one of which 
was purchased by James Smith, and is now in the possession 
of his widow. 

Lucifer or Friction Matches were first used in Bath, about 
1834 — less than a quarter of a century ago. Friction 
matches ! exclaims some of the rising generation, why allude 
to such little things ? Because small as they are, they are 
things of great utility and convenience. Did you know all 
that your parents and grandparents know, of the great care 
formerly requisite to keep the fire ; of the trouble connected 
with the tinder-box, steel and flint ; and especially of being 
aroused at early dawn to go to one of the neighbors, perhaps 
through the rain and mud or snow, to obtain some fire ; you 
would have new ideas of the value of these little things, and 
regard their inventor as a public benefactor. 

Jaasiel Harriman. — This man was one of the Proprietors 
of the town, and in the Charter his name is spelt Ilerriman, 
while in iha " History of the Coos Country," he is called 
Jesse Ilarriman, the name by which he was commonly known. 
He was originally from Haverhill, Mass. ; he first removed to 
Hampstcad ; but in 1762, came to Haverhill, N. H., in 
company with Col. Howard and Simeon Stevens. They were 
the first settlers that came to the Coos Country in a direct 
course from Salisbury. All this section of New Hampshire 
and Vermont, was in early times called "the Coos Coun- 
try." They employed an old hunter to guide them 
through the wilderness, and were four days in performing the 
journey from Concord. Before that, all the settlers from the 
southeast part of the State and from Mass., had come by the 
way of Charlestown, No. 4. In 1766, Mr. H. left Haver- 
hill, and came with his family to Bath — being the first fam- 
ily that moved into town, while that of Moses Pike, his 



121 



brother-in-law, was the second. The latter first pitched up- 
on the Island at the upper village, but Mr. H. camped by 
the side of the gr-eat Rock, as has been before stated. In 
the Proprietor's records under date of May 28, 1767, is 
found the following : " Voted, that both Mr. Harriman and 
Mr. John Sawyer be entitled to their pitches of five hundred 
acres apiece, as laid out by Mr. Chandler.*' Nancy, a 
dauo;hter of Mr. II. is now livins; in Haverhill, at the ao-e of 
eighty-four years. She was born in Chester, N.II. in 1771 ; 
at the age of eighteen, she married Jesse Carleton, came to 
Bath, and lived here till after her husband's death on the 
farm now belonging to Abiel Doming. . For one so advanced 
in life, her health is good, her mind vigorous, and her mem- 
ory retentive. She has furnished me with several interest- 
ing incidents relating to her parents' early residence in this 
town, wbich will give us a vivid idea of the privations and 
trials of the first settlers. 

At one time, soon after they moved here, the family were 
without bread or any meal to make bread of. In this emer- 
gency, Mrs. H. procured a flat stone, rubbed it smooth, then 
pounded upon it enough corn to make an Indian cake, which 
sh-e baked for supper. 

One night, while Mr. H. was gone to No. 4, to get pro- 
visions, as Mrs. II. was lying»in bed with her youngest child 
by her side and two or three older ones sleeping in a trundle- 
bod near by, she was startled by the sudden entrance into 
her log cabin, of four Indians painted red, which she knew 
indicated war. She instantly sat up in the bed, seized a 
piece of white cloth, and commenced waving it to and fro, aa 
a sign of peace. The Indians first went to the fire ; present- 
ly two of them approached the bed, looked intently at the 
little one by her side, and also peered into the trundle-bed, 
thou returned to the fireside, when the other two Indians did 



122 



the same — slio keeping the white cloth waving all the time. 
After a brief consultation, they took a partridge, broiled and 
eat it, then left the cabin and went away. 

At another time, both of the parents went to the Oxbow, 
leaving their four children alone in the cabin. The eldest, a 
girl about nine years of age, seeing some Indians approach- 
ing, hastened the others into a kind of closet that was par- 
titioned off with a blanket in one corner of the room, hid one 
of them in a barrel of feathers and another under a wash- 
tub ; then took the babe and kept feeding it with sugar and 
water to prevent its making any noise. The Indians came 
in, looked around, and, perceiving no one, helped themselves 
to some tallow and went ojEF. 

It was a common thing for the wolves to come around 
their habitation in the night, and set up their hideous bowl- 
ings. Consequently, whenever Mr. H. was absent, his wife 
was accustomed before dark to go out and collect some pine 
knots, and as the wolves approached, she would set the knots 
on fire, rush out and toss them among the wolves, causing 
them to scamper away with great rapidity. 

On one occasion, Mrs. H. being out doors, perceived some- 
thing coming across the Island directly towards her. She 
ran down to the river, and found it was a young moose, pant- 
ing and much exhausted by ruaning, which was then swim- 
ming across the east branch of the Ammonoosuc. As soon 
as it reached the bank, she seized it and held it fast, till her 
little daughter had brought her a knife with which she cut 
its throat. Very soon some Indian hunters, who had been 
pursuing it, made their appearance. Finding it dead, they 
skinned it and gave her one of the quarters, which weighed 
near fifty pounds. 

Though Mrs. Ilarrlman displayed so much heroism, she 
lived in constant dread of the Indians, and became so disi- 



123 



contented, that, after about two years from tlie time he came, 
Mr. Harriman was induced to leave Bath, and removed to 
Chester, N. H. 

Justice to the Indians requires rae to say, in this connect- 
ion, that they seem to have been peaceably disposed, and to 
have treated the early settlers in a friendly manner. They 
were about here in considerable numbers, both before and 
during the Revolutionary war. Several of our old people 
recollect having seen them frequently ; and it is related that 
Daniel Bedel, one of the first settlers and a great hunter, 
would sometimes have his cabin full of them ; yet I have 
not learnt of a single instance of savage violence, or even 
flagrant dishonesty, on their part. Notwithstanding this, few 
of the present generation will be disposed to censure Mrs. 
Harriman for her feelings in regard to them. 

When the first settlers came, they found here not only In- 
dians, but wolves, bears, deer, and moose, in considerable 
numbers. For many years they had to fold their sheep at 
night, to secure them from the depredations of the wolves ; 
and even as late as the beginning of the present century, 
their nocturnal howlinQ;s were often heard in the forests. The 
early settlers also found an abundant supply of fine salmon 
in the rivers ; a luxury of which the present inhabitants are 
deprived. 

TEMPERATURE, CLIMATE, &c. 

1780. Known as " the cold winter " in all parts of the 
country. 

1810, Jan. 19. "Celebrated as "the cold Friday," and 

one of the coldest days ever known. In this town, men 
froze their faces who were out only long enough to run some 
fifty rods. 



124: 



1815, Sept. 23. In the forenoon of tlils day, a furious 
gale of wind from the southeast swept over New England, 
prostrating fences, trees, and buildings in great numbers, 
occasioning an immense destruction of property, and the loss 
of many lives. 

1816. A very cold summer; there was frost every 
month of the year ; scarcely any corn came to maturity, 
though other crops were generally good. On the 8th of 
June, some masons, that were laying the walls of a brick- 
house at the upper village, put on over-coats and mittens to 
keep warm ; and at length, owing to the mortar's freezing, 
they had to abandon their work till the 10th, when they were 
able to resume it. 

1827, July 4. Snow fell this day at some places in the 
vicinity of the "White Mountains. 

1834. On the 15th of May, snow fell in this vicinity to 
the depth of two feet, and remained several days ; cattle and 
other animals suffered greatly ; and corn that had been 
planted in some instances rotted in the ground. 

1835. December of this year and the January following 
were remarkably cold. For more than six weeks, the water 
did not drop from the eaves on the south side of buildings. 

1843. March of this year was extremely cold-^— the cold- 
est March for twenty-six years. At the close of the month, 
there was a great depth of snow in all the northern parts of 
the country, from Maine to Missouri ; in some parts of Ver- 
mont, it was from five to seven feet deep on a level, and in 
some places in New York, there were said to be drifts 
forty feet deep ! Hay was scarce, and many cattle and 
sheep died. 

In August, sixteen inches of rain fell in Conn. — of this 
seven inches fell the 20th, 21st, and 22nd — and in New 
York city it was said that nine inches fell on the 21st-. 



125 



Oct. 23. On this day there was a snow storm in all parts 
of New England and New York. About eight inches fell 
in Bath, and from eighteen to twenty-four inches on the 
Green Mountains. Some of it remained through Nov. so 
that sleighs run till the next spring. Potatoes, that had not 
been dug, were destroyed. 

1844. The last week in Jan. was very cold ; on the morn- 
ing of the 26th, the thermometer, in various places in New 
England, fell to 34 and 36 degrees below zero, and at Mont- 
pelier, Vt., the mercury congealed. 

1849. June and July of this year were remarkable dry 
in all parts of New England ; many streams and springs 
dried up ; grass and most other crops suffered greatly ; but 
potatoes, which at the first of Aug. were no larger than rob- 
in's eggs, grew surprisingly and yielded a fair crop. 

1850. The morning of Feb. 6th was intensely cold ; in 
this town the mercury fell to 40 degrees below zero and con- 
gealed. 

The winter of 1851 and 52 was a memorable one — 1st., 
For the quantity of snow that fell, being no less than eio-ht 
feet and two inches ; of this twenty inches fell in Nov., and 
the same amount in April. 2d, For its great length; sleighs 
commenced running Nov. 10th, and continued to run till near 
the middle of April, making twenty-two weeks of sleighino-; 
during eighteen of which it was excellent. 8d, For the sever- 
ity of the cold; Nov. 12th, the thermometer was two degrees 
below zero ; in Dec. it was below zero eleven days ; in Jan. 
fourteen days ; in Feb. eight days ; and in March, two days — 
in all thirty-six days ! Twelve of these days it was eighteen 
or more degrees below, and once twenty-seven below. The 
average temperature of Dec. at sunrise was eight degrees ; of 
Jan. seven degrees ; of Feb. twelve degrees — being the cold- 
est Dec. and Jan. for many years. 
11 



126 



1854. Feb. was excessively cold; thermometer below 
zero fourteen days — on the 4tb, twenty-six degrees below, 
and on the 5tb, twenty-eight below ; from Jan. 22d to Feb. 
12th (twenty days in succession,) the average at sunrise was 
one and a half degree below zero. July and August of 
this year were very warm and dry — only one inch of rain 
fell in July, and five-twelfths of an inch in August. At the 
close of this month, very many of the streams and springs 
were dried up, and fires would run in the pastures ; in some 
places farmers had to feed out hay and green corn to their 
cattle; corn, oats, potatoes, &c., were much injured. The 
Editor of the N. Y, Tribune estimated the loss to the coun- 
try from the drouth to be not less than one [^hundred mil- 
lions of dollars. During the autumn there were no soaking 
rains, so that the springs and streams remained low, and 
some of them entirely dry, through the fall and winter. A 
laro-e number of the families in Bath villao;e had to obtain 
water from the river, all the winter, both for domestic pur- 
poses and for then* cattle — a thing unprecedented in the his- 
tory of the town. 

1855. Tuesday, Feb. 6th, and Wednesday morning, 
Feb. 7th, were intensely cold in all the northern parts of the 
country. 

The thermometer at Bath, Tuesday morning, was twenty- 
two degrees below zero ; at noon eighteen below ; at nine in 
the evening twenty-two below ; and at sunrise on Wednes- 
day twenty-eight below. At noon on Tuesday, it was ten 
degrees lower than it had been in the middle of the day for 
upwards of twenty years, accompanied by a strong piercing 
wind from the northwest. On the morning of Wednesday, 
the thermometer at St. Johnsbury, Yt., was twenty-nine de- 
grees below zero, at Northfield, thirty-five below ; at Island 
Pond, thirty-nine below; at Gorham, N. XL, thirty-seven 



12T 



below ; at Keene, twenty-eigbt below ; at Bangor, Mc., thli-- 
ty-five below ; at Boston, nineteen below ; at Albany, twen- 
ty below ; at New York, six below ; at Philadelphia, foiiu 
below ; and at Montreal, it was twenty-eight below. 



Greatest cold. 


Orcfttcst heat. 




Below zero. 




Above 90^. 


1850 Feb. 6 


40°* 


June 19 


9-P 


20 days 




4 days 


1851 Jan. 31 


25 


June 30 


95 




27 


u 




7 " 


1852 Jan. 16 


29 


July 9 


98 




28 


<c 




16 " 


1853 Jan. 27 


14 


June 16 


95 




16 


(( 




7 " 


1854 Jan. 29 


35 


July 20 


95 




36 


u 




8 " 


Below zero.. 


















pie trees blossomed. First frost in Autumn. 


Rain. 






Snow. 


1850 June 4 




Sept. 15 




35-1- 


in. 




5 ft. 7 in. 


1851 May 24 




Sept. 15 




31 






4 


4 


1852 May 26 




Sept. 14 




27 






6 


8 


1853 May 24 




Sept. 12 




37 






4 





1854 May 27 




Sept. 16 




24-1- 






4 


2 



^ The writer, having kept a journal of the weather near 
twenty years, prior to 1850 in Woodstock, Ct., (a town 
bordering upon Mass., 22 miles south of Worcester,), and 
for the last five years in Bath, would present a few items in- 
dicating the difference of temperature between the two places. 
The observations were taken at sunrise, in the middle of tlie 
day, and at nine in the evening. 



Average temperature at Woodstock for 10 years from 1840 to 
1850, and the same at Bath for 5 7jears from 1850 to 1855. 





Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June, 


At W. 


26F 


28° 


34° 


45r 


57f° 


m 


AtB. 


Hi 


m 


30 


40f 


54-1 


65 




H 


6| 


4 


H 


3 


n 



128 



July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nor. Dec. 

At W. 11} 70f 6H 48^^^ 89^\ 29^ 

AtB. 69if 66 58^ 47^ 35^^ 20 

"lA If Tf 1^^ "4>, "9i 

Thus showing an average difference, for the winter months, 
of 8^ degrees; for the spring months, 4^^ degrees; for the 
summer mouths, 2f degrees ; and for the autumn months, 
2 1 degrees. 



THE DEATH AND CHARACTER OF REV. D. 
SUTHERLAND. 

Death having removed this venerable man, just as the 
present work is prepared for the press, it is deemed proper to 
insert here the substance of an Obituary Notice of him^that 
has recently been published in one of our religious papers. 

Rev. David Sutherland died July 25, 1855, at the 
advanced age of seventy-eight years, one month and six 
days. He was attacked severely with disease of the heart 
on the last day of June., and lingered in much suffering be- 
tween three and four weeks. 

His funeral was attended July 27th, and notwithstanding 
the busy season of the year, a great concourse from this and 
the neighboring towns, among whom were several clergymen, 
assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom 
they had long venerated and loved. The sermon was 
preached by Rev. T. Boutelle, from Matt, 25 ; 21. " Well 
done thou good and faithful servant ; enter thou into the joy 
of thy Lord." The following is an extract from the dis- 
course : 

The Rev. David Sutherland was born the 19th of June, 
1777, at Edinburgh, Scotland. His childhood and youth 



129 



were spent in the place of his nativity. He served an ap- 
prenticeship in a printing office ; at the age of sixteen he- 
came hopefully pious ; and when nineteen years old entered 
a Theological Seminary and studied for the Christian minis- 
try. Having pursued the usual course of study, he gradua- 
ted the last week of the eighteenth century, and commenced 
bis ministerial life the first Sabbath of the present century. 

After laboring as a minister in Scotland for nearly three 
years, he received an invitation from a Scottish farmer in 
Barnet, Yt. to cross the Atlantic, and come and preach in 
his neighborhood. In compliance with this invitation, he 
left his native country, in the spring of 1803, and with his 
late beloved companion,* came to the United States. Hav- 
ing preached in Bath several Sabbaths during 1804, he re- 
ceived a call to settle, in May 1805, which he accepted, and 
immediately removed from Barnet to this town. In October 
following, (as soon as the meeting-house was finished.) he 
was installed as the first pastor of the Church and minister 
of tli^ town — just half a century ago. 

Though he resigned the pastoral office in 1843, he did not 

-* The late Mrs. Sutherland, -whose maiden name was Anna Waters, 
was born in Scotland, Dec. 22, 1774. Gifted by nature with good tal- 
ents, she acquired a superior education, and at the age of nineteen be- 
came a disciple of Christ. Her talents, her education, and devoted piety 
eminentl}^ fitted her for a prominent station and extensive usefulness in 
the Lord's vineyard. In April, 1803, she was united in marriage to Kev. 
D. Sutherland; and, after having been his worthy partner near half 
a century, died Feb. 3, 1852, aged seventy-seven years. She was the 
mother of seven children ; one of whom died in infancy, another at the 
age of nineteen years ; while two sons and three daughters are still 
living. 

Jlrs. S. was a rare woman; sustaining most worthily the relations Qf 
a wife, a mother, a friend, a neighbor, a member of society and of the 
Church of Christ. Her many lovely and excellent qualities greatly en- 
deared her to her friends, caused her to be universally esteemed and be- 
loved, and have sacredlv embalmed her memorv in many bosoms. 

ir 



130 



relinquish liis ministerial labors, but continued to preach in 
different places, almost everj Sabbath, up to 1854. And 
even during the last year, he preached more or less, erery 
month. His last sermon was delivered only a few weeks 
since, fifty-five years and a half after he commenced his min- 
isterial labors. 

But his work is done ; his voice is silent in death. Few 
ministers have labored so long and preached so much ; few 
have possessed so vigorous a constitution, and enjoyed such 
almost uninterrupted health ; few have had so many attract- 
ive qualities, and been so universally respected, esteemed and 
beloved. 

Of the character of our departed friend I can give only a 
brief and imperfect sketch. He possessed many private vir- 
tues which greatly endeared him to his friends, and caused 
those to love him most who knew him best. His natural dis- 
position was amiable, and when refined by grace, rendered 
him peculiarly pleasant and lovely. 

He had a kind and loving heart ; that charity which think- 
eth no evil, which hopeth all things, and which covereth a 
multitude of sins. Modesty and humility were prominent 
traits in his character, and shone forth briglitly at all times. 
He cared little for the world or the things of the world. In 
his view, money seemed to have but a trifling value, only as a 
means of doing good. 

He was greatly distinguished for his benevolence. His 
large heart was ever filled with kindness, good will and gen- 
erosity. He pitied the poor, the unfortunate, and the suffer- 
ing ; and often opened his hand and his purse for their relief. 
He was given to hospitality. His house like his heart was 
open to all ; while his friends and his ministerial brethren al- 
ways received a hearty welcome. 

He was also a sincere friend, full of affection and sympa- 



131 



thy. He illustrated conspicuously tlie proverb, " a friend is 
born for adversity." His sympathy with those in trouble — 
with the sick, the suffering, the bereaved and the disconso- 
late, was heartfelt and active. It was this, that caused him 
to be so often sent for by tlie afflicted in all the neighboring 
towns, that he might preach funeral sermons and pour balm 
into sorrowing bosoms. During his ministry, he attended, 
as he supposed, not less than thirteen hundred funerals, at 
nearly every one of which he preached a sermon ! 

His social qualities were of a high order. Though far re- 
moved from levity, he was always cheerful, lively and attract- 
ive, in the social circle. He possessed unusual powers of 
conversation, while a rich fund of anecdotes gave additional 
interest to what he said. Always courteous, affable and gen- 
tlemanly, he rendered himself highly agreeable to all classes 
— *- to professional men and those engaged in the higher walks 
of life, as well as to others. 

The excellences of our departed friend as a pastor, were 
manifold and great. The traits of character already alluded 
to, peculiarly fitted him for this department of ministerial la- 
bor. He was always active ; and not confining himself to 
his study so much as many others, he literally ' ' went about 
doing good." He visited much among his own people and 
in all the region round about, urging the claims of religion, 
in season and out of season, and from house to house. In 
the earlier part of his ministry more particularly, he per- 
formed a large amount of missionary service in numerous 
places in this section of country, that were then destitute of 
the regular ministrations of the gospel. 

He was a man of prayer and devoted piety. He loved 
his closet and communion with God. He stated a few months 
since, when urging this duty upon others, " that for more than 
sixty years he had not omitted secret prayer for a single day." 



132 



His piety was seen in his family. There he enforced the 
.claims of religion, both by precept and example. He com- 
manded his children to keep the way of the Lord, and also 
restrained them from evil. And he has been comforted in 
his declining days, by seeing them all numbered with the dis- 
ciples of Christ. 

He also carried his piety into all the private duties and 
transactions of life — into all places and all companies. 
Though pleasant and cheerful, a Christian sobriety marked all 
his deportment. No evil communication proceeded out of 
his mouth. He practically said at all times, I am a servant 
of the Lord. 

In the welfare of the young, he ever manifested a very 
deep interest. And in adapting himself to their capacities, 
feelings, and states of mind, he had a rare ability. Persons, 
who in childhood lived in neighboring towns, have told me 
that they always felt gratified when they saw Mr. Sutherland 
in the pulpit, for they expected to hoar something that would 
interest children. And some of his happy and striking il- 
lustrations, uttered many years ago, they have never for- 
gotten. 

He was a pioneer in establishing Sabbath Schools, and in 
promoting the cause of temperance, in this region ; and was 
there time, it would be pleasant to speak of his efforts in their 
behalf, and also of his interest in the great benevolent oper- 
ations of the day ; but I must forbear, and proceed to say a 
few things of him as a preacher. 

He had a good personal appearance ; a pleasant and well 
modulated voice ; an unusual fluency of speech ; and a de- 
livery, easy, natural, graceful, and when in his prime, pe- 
culiarly earnest, animated and impressive. He had also a 
vigorous, discriminating, well-balanced and well-stored mind, 
a lively imagination, an uncommon memory, and intellect- 



133 



ual powers naturally superior. His sermons were distin- 
guished for clearness, perspicuity, a lucid order and natural 
arrangement. They were always scriptural, practical, pun- 
gent ; and, being e:itemporaneous and coming from a warm 
heart, were peculiarly attractive, solemn and effective. 

Few men possessed such extemporaneous gifts. His 
thoughts seemed to flow spontaneously and without any ef- 
fort. He was never at a loss for words ; and yet had the 
happy faculty of selecting the very words best fitted to ex- 
press the idea which he wished to convey. Having treasured 
tip in his memory a large amount of facts and anecdotes, he 
was able at pleasure to draw from this storehouse, apt and 
striking illustrations. This gave a peculiar zest to his preach- 
ing, and contributed to his popularity. 

He had, too, great skill in adapting himself to the occa- 
sion, and to special occasions. This was a very prominent 
trait, a peculiar felicity, and one of the elements of his great 
popularity when in his palmiest days. And this doubtless 
was one reason why he was so often sent for to speak on spe- 
cial occasions. Were he called to deliver an address on the 
Fourth of July or on Masonry ; to preach at the funeral of 
the aged or the young, of those who had died by drowning 
or suicide, of a pauper or the President of a College ; or 
were he selected to preach before the General Association, or 
the Legislature of the State, or to address ten thousand peo- 
ple assembled to witness the execution of a murderer -^-^ in 
all such cases he was equally appropriate, and acquitted him- 
self perhaps equally well. He was extensively known in 
New England and the Middle States, and wherever he went 
he attracted attention and preached with much acceptance. 
I have reason to know that this was the ease in Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia, and other places. 

Not only was he extensively popular as a preacher^ but 



134 



what is more, he was useful. The great Lord of the vhie- 
yard blessed his labors to the conversion of many souls. Not 
less than six distinct revivals were enjoyed here under his 
ministry ; some of them of much interest and power, and 
in one of them more than a hundred individuals united with 
the church. His ministerial brethren often enjoyed his as- 
sistance in times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. 
A clergyman in Massachusetts recently informed me, of the 
interest he awakened and the good he accomplished among 
the students of Dartmouth College, during a revival in that 
Institution some thirty-five years ago. Often in his later 
years, has his heart been cheered by having entire strangers 
from different sections of the country, greet him most cordial- 
ly, and assure him that they regarded him as their spiritual 
father. He has also done good with his pen. The number 
of articles which he has furnished for the religious press, 
over the well-known signature of D. S., is very great. 

But his labors and his usefulness are now ended. Since 
the disease of which he died began to develope itself, he had 
felt that his life might terminate at any moment. For years 
he has been walking on the very verge of eternity. Con- 
sequently when death came, it found him ready and waiting. 
Though his sickness was protracted and painful, he was ever 
calm, patient, and resigned. He talked much, but not a 
murmuring word fell from his lips, while all he uttered was 
peculiarly Christian. He addressed words of deep interest 
to those who visited him, and" sent dying messages to a large 
number of absent friends. His faith was firm and unwaver- 
ing, his hope serene and joyful, without a single cloud of 
doubt to darken his sky. 

He spent much time in prayer ; and the day before his exit 
feeling that his departure was near, he raised his eyes towards 
heaven and said, " Father, I thank thee for clearness of in- 



135 



tellect, now "wlieii I am about to be ushered into the presence 
of the eternal God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy angels, 
and the spirits of the just made perfect ; I thank thco, that I 
know my acceptance with thee, through the merits of my 
adored Redeemer." A little before he was released from 
his sufferings, he was heard to say, ' ' Why are thy chariot 
wheels so long in coming ? Come, Lord Jesus, come quick- 
ly ! " and '' 0, give me patience." His prayer was heard ; 
patience was giyen him ; and his Lord cjuiekly came and 
granted him a happy release. For scarcely had he given ut- 
terance to these words, when without a struggle or a groan, 
he passed away from earth to heaven ; there to hear the bless- 
ed sentence, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; 
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." And now " he restg 
from his labors, and his works do follow him." 



v" 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED TO THK 



INHABITANTS OF BATH, i 



ON THB , 

EVENING OF JANUARY 23, 1851, 

BEING THE 

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUTHOR'S FIRST PREACH- 
ING IN THE TOWN. 



BY 



REY. DAVID SUTHEKLAND. 



WITH AIN HISTORICAL APPENDIX, 



REV. THOMAS BOUTELLE. 



BOSTON: 
PRESS OF GEO. C RAND & AVERY, 3 CORNHILL. 

18 5 5. 



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PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, L.P. 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 1 6066 
(724)779-2111 



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